Lawrence-area employers expect to hire at a slightly stronger pace than usual during the first three months of 2005, according to a Manpower Inc. survey.

The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found 17 percent of local companies planned to increase their work forces between January and March, while just 3 percent expected to reduce payrolls. The remaining 80 percent expected to maintain levels.

“Employers are slightly more optimistic about hiring than they were a year ago,” said Nancy Slabaugh, manager of Manpower’s Lawrence office.

She pointed out, however, that first quarter hiring activity would be down from the current fourth quarter of 2004, when 30 percent of companies interviewed intended to hire more employees and 3 percent planned to reduce payrolls. The fourth quarter usually has heavy hiring expectations because of seasonal demand for workers, especially among retailers.

A year ago, the survey found 17 percent planned to increase first-quarter hiring and 7 percent planned to decrease it; in 2003, 10 percent planned to add workers and 7 percent planned to cut back.

For the coming quarter in Lawrence, Manpower said job prospects appeared best in nondurable goods manufacturing, transportation/public utilities, wholesale/retail trade, finance/insurance/real estate and services. Employers in education plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in construction, durable goods manufacturing and public administration is expected to remain unchanged.