NEARLY two-thirds of employers on the Chinese mainland are expected to grow their head count in the second quarter of this year, with the banking and financial services sectors having the strongest likelihood of recruiting more staff, according to a survey yesterday.

Overall employers on the Chinese mainland have the highest hiring expectations this quarter compared to other Asian markets surveyed, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, since the fourth quarter of 2007. Nearly two-thirds, or 64 percent, of firms across all sectors expect to boost their employee numbers due to a better economic environment, the survey revealed.

The hiring percentage in the survey, conducted among 1,600 employers by Hudson, a provider of human resources services, showed a higher proportion than 49 percent in the first quarter, and more than double the 30 percent in the second quarter of 2009.

In the banking and financial services sector 69 percent of firms are set to hire more from April to June.

Explaining the high hiring expectations in the sector, Mark Carriban, managing director of Hudson Asia, said foreign banks were expanding rapidly on China's mainland.

The report also revealed that 76 percent of employers would make counter offers - either a higher salary or a promotion - to employees who plan to resign and join other companies. The figure was 6 percentage points higher than that in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The report explained that employers who were willing to make counter offers were aware the job market was recovering strongly and they were keen to replace experienced staff.

Asked how they recruited new staff in the last six months, 87 percent of employers said they hired directly and 83 percent referred to employees' recommendations.