Lawrence job seekers should have an easier time finding a job during the next three months, according to a report released Tuesday.

Manpower Inc.’s quarterly employment outlook survey found Lawrence employers were more optimistic about their hiring plans than they were last quarter and last year.

According to the survey, 37 percent of area companies that were interviewed planned to increase their work force during the April-to-June period, while none planned a reduction.

“I think the companies in Lawrence are becoming cautiously optimistic,” said Nancy Slabaugh, manager for Manpower’s Lawrence operations.

The results were significantly stronger than last quarter, when 17 percent of companies planned to increase their work force and 7 percent planned a decrease. A year ago, 20 percent of employers thought job increases were likely, while 7 percent intended to cut back.

Slabaugh said the manufacturing sector was improving.

“I think manufacturers are finally seeing an increase in their orders again, and that hasn’t been the case in the last two or three years,” Slabaugh said. “We’re kind of hopeful again.”

Cheryl White, a manager at the Lawrence Workforce Center, said she had noticed signs of an improving job market. She said the state’s Kansas Job Link site had been adding about 15 job listings per week for the past few weeks.

“I think companies are becoming more optimistic,” White said. “We still call on a lot of companies that say they aren’t hiring right now, but they’re planning on doing something. That’s an improvement from what we were hearing.”

The Manpower survey found that manufacturing, wholesale/retail trade and construction companies were the most likely to add jobs in the Lawrence area in the coming quarter.

Nationally, the survey found 28 percent of responding companies planned to increase hiring activity, while 6 percent anticipated a decrease.