According to the survey unveiled on Tuesday, 10% of the 622 companies included plan to increase employment, while 19% expect to reduce the number of employees in the first three months of next year.

This is the lowest net outlook level since the survey started in the first quarter of 2011, Manpower's sales director Romana Šercelj stressed at a press conference.

Net prospects are negative in nine out of ten sectors, the lowest in the public sector and social services (-27%) and in construction (-23%), which is due to austerity measures in the former and the low season in the latter.

The only sector with a positive outlook are financial and business services, insurance and real estate (+7%), the survey shows.

The regional aspect shows a negative outlook for the next quarter in all four regions of Slovenia as distinguished by the survey, with the worst prospects in the SW, followed by central Slovenia.