BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The employment outlook in the Binghamton metro area is steady and improving. That's at least according to Manpower, Inc. and its quarterly employment outlook survey.

For the second quarter of 2010, 19 percent of local employers said they plan to hire more staff, while seven percent will reduce payroll. The bulk, 68 percent, plan to keep staffing levels the same.

Manpower analysts said overall, the Binghamton area's employment outlook is much improved over last quarter and the same time last year.