Employment indicators in Asia are starting to show signs of a regional recovery and Jeffrey Joerres, chief executive of the employment services group Manpower, says south-east Asian economies could benefit from new trends among multinational manufacturers.

“This part of the world is unique. It is looking like a bit more of a classic recovery at this time but we are very cautious because we know that it will only last as long as this environment is stimulated and then backed up by [a revival in] western demand,” Mr Joerres told the Financial Times.

“Most of what we see in other parts of the world is that they are still down. What I'm finding in south-east Asia is that we are already starting to feel the comeback. We are already starting to feel the number of people out on assignment is going back up on a sequential basis,” he said.