Washington, March 15:

The outlook for job growth is improving in Japan and Germany, with strong conditions holding in the United States and many Asian nations, a global survey showed.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey suggested much of Europe is coming out of the doldrums, with the exception of Italy. Hiring is expected to be positive in the second quarter of 2006 in 23 of 24 countries and territories surveyed in Europe, Asia and the Americas, the US employment firm said.

The survey found Japanese and German employers report their most optimistic hiring plans since the survey began in those countries in the second quarter of 2003.

“Despite high fuel prices and other challenges, the global labor market looks set to improve in most of Europe and Asia in the second quarter, with steady hiring set to continue in the Americas,” said Jeffrey Joerres, chairman and chief executive of Manpower.

“German employers are saying they will begin to add employees again, albeit modestly, and hiring activity in Japan should be vigorous, beyond what we normally see in the second quarter — their peak hiring season.”