By Melissa McCord
The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - Companies plan to hire slightly more people in the first few months of 2003 than a year ago, even as they remain highly uncertain about the economy, according to a new survey.

Twenty percent of the companies surveyed by Manpower Inc. expect to hire more people in the first quarter, while 12 percent plan to cut workers, according to the quarterly survey of 16,000 businesses. The remainder either expected to maintain their staffing levels or were uncertain.

"If you're looking for a job, this doesn't feel that much better," said Jeffrey Joerres, Manpower's chairman and chief executive officer.

When seasonally adjusted, the first quarter's hiring intentions are slightly above the previous two quarters.

Employers also are more optimistic than they were for the first quarter of 2002, when 16 percent expected to hire more workers and 16 percent planned to reduce staff.