16% of bosses on the hunt for new employees

This raises the net employment outlook to +11%.

About 16% of employers plan to add to their headcount in Q4, boosting net employment outlook to +11%, ManpowerGroup revealed.

According to its latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS), the net employment outlook for Q4 is the highest in two years, improving by 4 ppt from last year.

Staffing levels are forecast to climb in six of the seven industry sectors in 4Q2017, ManpowerGroup said.

The public administration & education sector remains the strongest, with employers reporting a solid net employment outlook of +22%, which is 20 ppt stronger than last quarter, and 15 ppt more when compared with the final quarter of 2016.

Moreover, employers in the services sector and the transportation & utilities sector forecast a steady increase in staffing levels, with outlooks of +18% and +17%, respectively, their strongest Outlooks in over two years.

ManpowerGroup Singapore country manager Linda Teo said, "The stronger hiring outlook in the Services sector reflects the expected surge in demand for IT specialists, especially those dealing with Cyber Operations and Cyber Security as more companies go digital."

Here's more from ManpowerGroup:

Elsewhere, finance, insurance & real estate sector employers report an outlook of +8%, whilst outlooks stand at +7% in the wholesale & retail trade sector and at +3% in the manufacturing sector.

However, mining & construction sector report uncertain hiring plans with an outlook of -1%, the weakest hiring outlook in more than eight years but one that remains relatively stable year-over-year.

When compared with 4Q2016, hiring prospects strengthen in four of the seven industry sectors, most notably by 15 ppt in the public administration & education sector and by 10 ppt in the transportation & utilities sector.

Wholesale & retail trade sector employers report an increase of 7 ppt while the outlook is 5 ppt stronger in the Services sector.

Meanwhile, hiring plans weaken in three sectors, most notably by 11 ppt for the finance, insurance & real estate sector and by 3 ppt for the manufacturing sector.