Job prospects in the Chicago area could be on the rise, according to a study released Tuesday by the Manpower Group.

According to spokeswoman Anne Edmunds, 19 percent of Chicago-area companies surveyed are planning to hire over the next few months. Seventy-six percent of those companies plan on maintaining their current staff. That’s up slightly from last year.

Northwestern Economics Professor Mark Witte said the survey brings good news, but there’s still work to do.

“You know the economy is in a period of fits and starts, and until it’s got a broad-based recovery we’re not going to be feeling good,” Witte said.

Edmunds said she agreed.

“I think that it’s important that we all understand that this is cautiously optimistic. We do see an increase in companies hiring, however we still are at a nine percent unemployment rate,” she said.

Edmunds said the best sectors for job prospects are durable goods, transportation, education, health services, leisure and hospitality. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly and interviews more than 18,000 companies in the United States.