Nearly one-third of Los Angeles-area employers plan to cut payrolls in the fourth quarter, while only half that number plan to add jobs, according to a survey released Tuesday by Manpower Inc.

The nationwide survey of 16,000 employers found Los Angeles to be one of the weakest job markets in the nation. Only 16 percent of respondents expected to hire more employees, while 30 percent planned to reduce staff. Another 40 percent of employers expect to maintain current payroll levels.

Nationally, 30 percent of employers responding said they planned to hire new workers in the fourth quarter, while only 8 percent expect to cut staff.

In L.A., “Employers are showing much more restraint about hiring than they were a year ago,” said Melanie Brown, a spokeswoman for Manpower.

Manpower found L.A.’s weakest sectors for hiring to be public administration, utilities, transportation and durable goods manufacturing, which increasingly is being moved offshore. Other industries such as retail, finance, insurance and real estate could see increased levels of hiring, the survey found.