BROOKFIELD, Wis (WSAU) Wisconsin's largest employment sector is expected to grow in the next three months. Q-P-S of Brookfield says manufacturers are more optimistic about their hiring trends than they were in the last quarter. A survey by Q-P-S shows that 41-percent of 184 manufacturers plan to add jobs from January-through-March -- especially in machine shops and metal fabricating.

9-percent of industrial firms expect layoffs, most notably in paper and commercial printing.

Wisconsin's job recovery has lagged behind the nation as a whole, but Mark Immekus of Q-P-S says metal-working industries have added jobs throughout the last year.

The survey shows that 40-percent of manufacturers expect the economy to grow between now and the end of March. Fifteen percent expect a decline. About two-thirds say the economy has impeded their growth. But 43-percent say they have a hard time finding qualified workers -- especially machinists and welders.

Most of the industries Q-P-S surveys are from Wisconsin, but a few are from Illinois. The average company has almost 90 employees.