About 20% of companies plan to reduce headcount, according to the findings of the research.

Manpower used a representative sample of 525 employers for the survey.

Manpower Magyarország executive manager Péter Varga said the cautiously optimistic expectations of companies predict a slow start to economic growth next year.

The manufacturing and trade and logistics sectors, which employ a significant number of workers, are expecting slightly below-average hiring, while automotive industry companies are expecting headcount to be unchanged in Q1, he said.