Scots job outlook 'worst in UK'
Recruitment firm Manpower has reported that the outlook for the Scottish jobs market is the weakest in the UK.
In many areas of the UK the picture was the most positive for three years but in Scotland it was still negative, the study suggested.
The survey said that public sector cuts would hit Scotland harder than other areas.
Manpower said smaller companies (SMEs) were more likely to hire staff than bigger firms.
Amanda White, Manpower's operations manager in Scotland, said: "SMEs were amongst the first to shed jobs during the recession and now they are looking to the temporary workforce to address peaks in their demand."
She also said changes in legislation affecting temporary workers were putting employers off hiring.
Ms White added: "Scottish employers are very worried and many are looking at alternative recruitment solutions, such as outsourcing jobs to specialist recruiters, in order to minimise the financial and regulatory implications of the regulations.
"This is particularly true amongst government departments."
Across the UK, the English West Midlands had the most positive outlook on hiring staff while in Wales and the North West of England, companies still expected to cut jobs.