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Companies based in the UK are optimistic about growth going into the new year, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

The survey, which is based on responses from over 2,100 UK employers, saw a two-point rise in its employment index for the first three months of the year, reaching the highest level of optimism in two years (+7 percent).

ManpowerGroup UK’s managing director, Mark Cahill, said in a statement: “UK companies are going into 2017 hungry for top talent. Employers are still unsure about what exactly Brexit will mean, but are not letting that uncertainty deter them from hiring.”


Image via ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

He mused that the spike in recruitment could be due to employers “looking to bring in talent before any curbs to freedom of movement across the European Union come into effect, as more than half of all the jobs created by UK employers this year went to EU workers.”

The survey also found that while the private sector is set to expand, the public sector is doing the opposite.

“Concerns over public finances are clearly having an effect on public sector hiring, but the longer-term trend towards digitisation and automation is also affecting public sector job prospects,” said Cahill.


Image via ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

Companies involved in business services, construction, and utilities are expected to grow, leading to more job opportunities, while the transportation sector appears to be the only sector expected to shrink, citing the recent ruling against ride-hailing app Uber as a factor.

“After years of growth the sector may have reached its peak. The recent court ruling against Uber has thrown the employment model of many transport and delivery firms into question, putting the brakes on jobs growth in the short term,” said Cahill.

He also named a rising interest in driverless technology and delivery drones as other contributing factors causing a decline in the sector. 

Image via Shutterstock

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