The survey, published Tuesday, found that three-quarters of those polled will neither hire nor lay off between Jan. 1 and March 31.

Temple, Killeen and Fort Hood form the metropolitan statistical area in which the survey was taken.

Dennis Bolding, Manpower spokesman here, said job prospects appear best in durable goods manufacturing, financial activities, professional and business services and education and health services for the quarter.

Employers in transportation and utilities plan to reduce staffing levels, he said.

The regional results tended to mirror the national survey results, which have a margin of error of +/-0.55 percent.

The first-quarter data cannot be compared to previous Manpower information because the company has changed its methodology, according to related press information.

Carroll Wilson, Telegram managing editor