Los Angeles employers say they plan to step up hiring during the third quarter, according to a survey to be released Tuesday from Manpower Inc.

The Milwaukee staffing giant’s quarterly survey of employers in L.A. and Orange counties found that 20 percent plan to increase staff, 2 percent plan layoffs and 78 percent plan to keep staffing levels constant.

The hiring figure is unchanged from three months ago, though down a bit from 22 percent for the same period last year.

But the biggest change was that only 2 percent of employers said they plan to lay off workers in the third quarter, compared to 5 percent three months ago.

That pushed the net employment outlook (percent of employers planning to hire workers minus the percent planning layoffs) up to 18 percent from 15 percent for the second quarter. That’s one of the strongest levels in recent quarters.

Manpower spokeswoman Marcelle Thorn said the figures show local employers plan net hiring at a stronger pace in the third quarter compared to the second quarter and compared to last year at this time.

The percentage of L.A. employers who said they planned to add staff was lower than the national average of 23 percent, though the percentage saying they planned layoffs was also lower than the national average of 5 percent.

For the third quarter, local job prospects appear best for construction, manufacturing and retail. Employers in the government sector plan to reduce staffing levels.