Prospects of hiring among employers on the Chinese mainland will continue to climb in this quarter as 77 percent companies planned to recruit more staff, up from an already-high 72 percent in the first three months of the year, a survey revealed yesterday.

The figure, rising from the 64 percent for the same period last year, means the mainland hiring expectations remain at the highest level since the quarterly survey, conducted by the Hudson Highland Group, was launched in Q4, 1998.

While every sector surveyed showed higher prospects compared to the previous year, Information Technology & Telecommunications sector saw the steepest year-on-year growth where hiring expectations have risen by almost half, from 53 percent to 76 percent. The manufacturing and industrial sector posted the highest numbers with 86 percent planning to recruit more.

Sales professionals are especially in short-supply, with 60 percent of the 600-plus respondents saying they would expand headcount in this area.

Mark Carriban, managing director with Hudson Asia, said: "Yet again hiring expectations in China have reached a new record level. The downside of this increasingly buoyant market is that employers are finding it more difficult to attract and retain top talent."

According to the survey, nearly three-quarters, or 73 percent, employers said they found it more difficult to recruit top talent than a year ago.