In Manpower Group’s Employment Outlook Survey, 32% of employers in the mining and construction sector are looking to ramp up their hiring in the first quarter 2012 compared to 12% looking to decrease their hiring.

When the data is seasonally adjusted, the net employment outlook is plus 19%, compared to plus 24% and plus 28% in the March and June quarters of 2011 respectively.

Manpower Group Australia and New Zealand managing director Lincoln Crawley said strong hiring expectations have been hampered by recent volatility in the resources sector.

“While major projects will stream ahead, factors including the Eurozone crisis, the mining tax and increasing levels of industrial action around the country are causing some companies to put the brakes on their hiring plans,” he said.

However, Manpower Group is seeing high demand for a range of specialist skills, including technical managers; mining engineers; maintenance superintendents; environmental engineers; study managers in port and rail operations, electrical trades and electrical engineering.

Crawley said head hunting in the mining space was still very active with many workers keen to hear what was on offer from other companies.

According to Manpower, the overall Australian employment market is holding firm in the face of global market jitters with employers reporting a net employment outlook of plus 14%.