The insurance industry’s employment outlook will remain strong in the second quarter, according to a survey by recruiter Manpower.

The finance, insurance and real estate sector has a net outlook of 17% for the three months to June, meaning more respondents intend to increase staffing levels than plan to decrease them.

The figure is the same as the previous quarter and up 3% on the second quarter of last year.

“The strongest hiring prospects are reported in the finance, insurance and real estate sector,” the survey of 1510 employers across seven industry categories says.

Employer confidence across all sectors has grown slightly for the second consecutive quarter.

Overall, 22% of employers expect to grow staffing levels (up 2% on the previous quarter), 11% will decrease (down from 13%) and 65% forecast no change.

Six of the seven industries show an increased employment outlook compared with last year.

Overseas, Hong Kong’s second-quarter forecast remains favourable, aided by “considerable improvements” in the finance, insurance and real estate sector as financial institutions pursue risk and compliance staff amid tightened banking regulations.