These were some of the findings in global recruiting firm Hudson’s latest employment trends report, which found the number of employers expected to increase headcount falling 1.6 percentage points to 22.5%.

Meanwhile, intentions to decrease headcount went up 1.66pp to 14.2%.

Hudson Asia Pacific chief executive Mark Steyn was not surprised to see the ‘hold steady’ approach to hiring intentions in Australia continue.

“There is still a real sense of uncertainty regarding the international economic outlook, which has a strong bearing on the hiring expectations in our local market,” he said.

Breaking down the hiring outlook among states, the Australian Capital Territory had the strongest intentions to hire, with expectations up 6.1pp to 26.3%.

New South Wales had the highest expectation to maintain headcount levels of all regions, up 3.3pp to 66.2%, led by significant increases in the information technology and professional services industries.

South Australia was also a standout, with hiring prospects jumping 5pp to 23.2%.

Meanwhile, Western Australia suffered the biggest fall in intentions to hire, down 7.6pp to 24.9%.

Hudson said the state’s resource sector had seen a plunge of 21.77pp in hiring prospects to 14.4%.

Like WA, Queensland has also been impacted by the slower-paced growth in the resources industry, with the coal seam gas-rich state recording the smallest amount of movement in overall hiring intentions.

Queensland’s coal industry is under serious strain, with a spate of company’s laying off thousands of jobs in the face of a weaker coal price and subdued market conditions.

At the same time, WA’s gold and iron ore industry is buckling under price pressures, with giants Barrick Gold and Rio Tinto confirming job cuts at their Perth offices in the past week.

“Many market commentators believe the peak of investment in the resources sector has passed, so it is not a surprise to see lower hiring expectations for Western Australian and Queensland,” Steyn said.

“This also affects those associated industries that support and supply it.”

Nationally, professional services had the highest intentions to hire of all industries, while manufacturing had the lowest.

By profession, the recruitment outlook was strongest for legal, followed by information, communications and technology.

Given today’s cautious business outlook, Steyn said the value of effective leadership was more critical than ever.

“Organisations need leaders that can deliver clarity of vision and motivate staff in these unpredictable conditions, and leadership skills need to be identified and nurtured,” he said.