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The employment outlook for the Winston-Salem area is upbeat for the third quarter, as employers’ hiring expectations are higher.

According to a Manpower Inc. survey scheduled for release today, 29% of employers in Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes and Yadkin counties plan to add jobs, up from 21% both in the second quarter and a year ago.

It is the highest local percentage for the Manpower survey since 29% in the fourth quarter of 2017, which represented an 11-year high at that time.

The hiring projection ranks tied with Raleigh for last among the four North Carolina metropolitan statistical areas surveyed, as well as below the 32% expecting to add jobs statewide.

The number of Winston-Salem area employers expecting to eliminate jobs remained at 2% — the same as the second quarter and a year ago.

That means the Winston-Salem area has a net positive employment outlook of 27%, also tied for last with Raleigh among the four metro areas.

The Greensboro-High Point MSA had 32% of employers planning to hire in the third quarter — up from 28% a year ago, but down from 36% in the second quarter. The number expecting to decrease staff was at 4%, up from 1% in the second quarter and a year ago.