Los Angeles area employers are expected to continue hiring workers at a modest pace during the fourth quarter, according to a survey from employment agency giant Manpower Inc.

During the fourth quarter, 15 percent of employers in Los Angeles and Orange counties said they expected to hire workers, while 9 percent expected to lay off workers. Nearly three-fourths of employers said they would maintain current staff levels, according to the Milwaukee employment firm’s survey released today.

That’s similar to the third quarter outlook, when 13 percent of employers expected to hire workers and 6 percent expected to lay off employees. But it’s an improvement over a year ago, when 13 percent of employers said they would lay workers off.

However, the job market in Los Angeles lags behind the rest of the county as Manpower’s nationwide survey found 22 percent of employers expected to hire workers and only 6 percent said they would lay off workers.

According to the survey, L.A. job prospects appear best in construction, retail, financial activities, leisure/hospitality and government and worse in durable goods manufacturing and professional/business services, where layoffs are expected.