ManpowerGroup’s quarterly data shows that Greek employers are somewhat optimistic over hiring prospects in the third quarter of 2015. The report said that job seekers will continue to benefit from a stable hiring trend in the July-September quarter.

A total of 18% of the 751 employers participating in the survey said that they expect an increase in workforce numbers, whereas 7% expect a decline and 70% expect no changes. The report showed that employment prospects increased by 7% in the third quarter, down 3% from the previous quarter.

There will be an upward trend in workforce figures in six out of nine sectors of economic activity in the third quarter of the year. The strongest labor markets are expected in the financial, insurance, real estate and business services sector, along with tourism, with total employment prospects increasing by 16% and 14% respectively.

Employment prospects were up by 10% in the wholesale/retail sector and 7% in the transport and communications sector. In the electricity/natural gas/water sector employment prospects are negative (-7.0 pct).

“Our survey reveals that those seeking a job could remain cautiously optimistic, given that hiring prospects in the labor market in Greece remain relatively stable in the July-September period,” Dr. Venetia Kousia, chairman and chief executive of ManpowerGroup said.