BUSINESSES in the Home Counties are expected to take on more staff in the second quarter of 2001, according to the latest survey from recruitment agency Manpower.

Manpower's quarterly survey of employment prospects shows that the slowdown of the US economy, and yo-yoing stocks has not yet hit the region.

Iain Herbertson, Manpower's managing director, said: "A recognition by business of the value of a well-trained, stable, flexible workforce, means that the pattern of steady growth in employment we have seen over the last few years should continue."

The survey showed that nationally 28 per cent of employers expect to expand their workforce, compared to 23 per cent over the same period in 2000.

It also showed that 34 per cent of companies in the south, including Buckinghamshire, expecting an increase in staff levels.

Manpower interviewed more than 2,000 company board directors, general managers and company secretaries from 19 sectors in 12 regions.