Financial hiring next year doesn’t look like it will be much better – or worse – than it was in 2010, recruiters say, suggesting that employers are still being somewhat cautious.

While Canada’s financial sector is more likely than any other to hire additional staff in first-quarter 2011, says Robert Half International’s latest survey of investment banks, wealth managers, and hedge funds, that only means 32 percent of CFOs plan to expand their teams. These executives also represent credit card issuers, bank lenders, insurance companies and real estate firms.

Financial services firms continue to scout for risk and compliance professionals, particularly on the institutional end.

That said, Canada’s investment banks don’t seem to be increasing their hiring efforts when compared to the active year-ago period.