Employers in many of the world’s largest economies are “taking a step back in hiring”, reflecting concerns that the crisis in financial markets could spill over into other sectors, according to a survey of more than 55,000 employers.

The study, conducted in 32 countries by Manpower, one of the world’s largest recruitment companies, reported that the jobs outlook in the US, one of the main engines of the global economy, was the weakest for four years.