SCOTLAND has the weakest employment outlook of any nation or region in the UK for the coming quarter, a survey has revealed, with the oil and gas sector's troubles weighing heavily.

A seasonally-adjusted survey published today by recruitment specialist Manpower shows that the proportions of employers expecting to reduce staff numbers and hire additional workers are equal.

The consequent employment outlook balance of zero for Scotland, arrived at by subtracting the proportion of employers expecting a fall in staff numbers from that projecting a rise, is worse than the outturn for any of the other 11 nations or regions of the UK covered by the Manpower survey.

However, it is an improvement on the balance north of the Border in Manpower's previous survey of the labour market outlook for the second quarter, when a balance of two per cent of Scottish employers had predicted a fall in staff numbers.

In the latest survey of the third-quarter outlook, a net 10 per cent of employers in the north-east of England forecast a rise in payrolls. And balances of nine per cent of employers in London, the East Midlands and south-west England expect staff numbers to rise in the coming quarter.

After Scotland, the next weakest employment outlook in the UK is for Northern Ireland. A net two per cent of Northern Irish employers forecast a rise in staff numbers.

Manpower again highlighted the impact on the Scottish employment outlook of troubles in the oil and gas sector that have arisen from weaker crude prices.

Amanda White, operations manager at Manpower UK, said: "Last quarter, we reported that the fall in oil prices had hit Scotland's jobs outlook hard, and, unfortunately, we have not seen much of an improvement this quarter. Downbeat hiring intentions and a waning oil and gas industry are casting a shadow over hiring intentions here in Scotland and we expect this to continue."

However, Ms White emphasised the importance of ensuring, in spite of the difficult climate in the oil and gas sector at the moment, that this key industry would have a suitably-skilled workforce over the long term.

She said: "With skills shortages in the oil and gas industry well known, it's important that employers track the skills required, in order to ensure growth for the long term."

Against the backdrop of a picture of overall stagnation in the Scottish labour market painted by the Manpower survey, Ms White highlighted the call centre sector as one which was in recruitment mode north of the Border.

She said: "Among the gloom, there are some bright spots, such as the thriving customer service industry in Scotland, with Glasgow and Edinburgh both seeing demand for candidates with call centre experience."

Ms White added: "The big Scottish cities are increasingly becoming known for their friendly and experienced call centre staff and skilled candidates in this field can feel positive about the jobs market this quarter."

The state of the Scottish labour market has deteriorated steadily in recent quarters, according to the Manpower survey.

In the survey of the outlook for the third quarter of last year, a balance of eight per cent of Scottish employers predicted a rise in staff numbers. And respective balances of two per cent and one per cent of Scottish employers projected rises in payrolls in the fourth quarter of last year and in the opening three months of 2015.

In the UK as a whole, a balance of six per cent of employers predict a rise in staff numbers in the coming quarter. This matches the readings for the UK as a whole in each of the three previous quarterly surveys.

The Manpower employment outlook survey is based on responses from 2,100 UK employers. The recruitment specialist describes the report as the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, and declares that it is used as a "key economic statistic" by the Bank of England and the UK Government.