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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Three months ago, Colorado Springs was ranked among the worst job markets in the U.S.

Now, it could be one of the best.

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, employers across the country report positive hiring intentions for the third quarter of 2011. Of the employers polled in Colorado Springs, 26 percent plan to hire more employees in July through September. That is up 7 percent from the same time in 2010 and double the amount of employers looking to hire in the second quarter of this year, making it the best the local job economy has looked since 2008.

However, what appears to be a good sign for the local economy could be a bit misleading.

"The Manpower Survey is based upon their clients," University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Professor Fred Crowley said. "Unfortunately, for the Colorado Springs sample size, they do not have very many clients in town and it depends on how many they get."

With few companies likely surveyed, the new report may not be an accurate reflection of the Colorado Springs job market.

"What Manpower has is a good track record of is pointing in the direction of change and they're saying things are improving," Crowley said. "With the small sample size, they tend to be off by the amount of improvement."

Crowley said the Manpower Survey is not off by much.

"We've been able to track for the first few months of this year that there actually has been an increase in jobs," Crowley said. "Not to the point where we are going to see unemployment drop to 5 percent again, but we did knock it down a full percentage point."

The Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) said the new report is encouraging, and it reflects the increase they have seen in local job opportunities.

"Last week was probably one of our best weeks in about a year," Sherman Swafford, Business Relations Manager for PPWFC, said. "We posted over 100 jobs in one week, and that is a barrier we haven't broken in quite awhile."

Swafford hopes posting more jobs becomes a trend.

"In this economy, I'm glad for any good news that says things are on the upswing. I hope that it continues," he said.

In Crowley's opinion, the recent job growth is just a taste of what is to come.

"2011 is the beginning of the turn of improvement, I think 2012 will be the really good year for improvement," Crowley said.

Crowley said the hiring surge is also because of the time of year as many employers plan to hire summer positions.

The Manpower Group reports the best job prospects appear to be in construction, manufacturing, transportation, retail, financial services and government. Employers in education and health services plan to reduce staffing levels.

For the full Manpower Survey results for Colorado Springs, click here.

Have you noticed improvement in the job market? Are you still struggling to find a job? Share your stories in our comment section below.