UK companies looking at extra hiring: survey

British companies are looking at going for extra hires between January and March at the fastest pace in more than four years, according to a survey by staffing firm ManpowerGroup.

The survey reported today that The Manpower Seasonally Aadjusted Net Employment Outlook for the first quarter of 2013 was up 6 per cent from 3 per cent for the current quarter, pointing to the strongest hiring intentions since plans for the penultimate quarter of 2008.

The UK, however continued to remain in the deepest recession in over 50 years at the time, which tempered the survey's optimism.

Mark Cahill, managing director, ManpowerGroup UK, said there was no need to get carried away as the jobs market lacked the dynamism that existed before 2008, with the vast majority of UK firms continuing to sit on their hands.

"The good news this time round is being driven by a relatively small number of businesses looking to expand, " according to the survey.

The past 12 months, have seen firms continue to create jobs even amid a largely stagnant economy, leaving economists and policymakers puzzled. Unemployment was falling with the employment level hitting an all-time high between June and August.