Some of 45% of finance companies told the CBI they increased employment up to March, while 7% said employment had decreased, giving a balance of +38%.
Firms expect employment to rise even more strongly next quarter (+46%), according to the figures released this morning.
Overall profitability in the financial service sector continued to grow, but at a more moderate pace compared with the previous quarter, the CBI said.
The report predicted profits would grow at a similar rate over the next three months.

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Matthew Fell, CBI director for competitive markets, said: "Financial services firms are growing steadily and are optimistic about their business situation. The fact that competition is growing as a potential business constraint highlights intensifying activity in the sector.
"It's also particularly encouraging to see that investment intentions continue to be positive across the board for the second consecutive quarter, strengthening further in some cases.
"Businesses plan to spend heavily on IT and are scrambling to find new professional staff to meet growth demands."
Kevin Burrowes, PwC financial services leader, said: "Having expanded at the strongest pace in six years during the three months to December, employment at financial services firms grew at a similarly strong rate in the quarter to March.
"The sector's headcount is expected to expand even more rapidly in the next three months (see below for jobs predictions).
"After three consecutive quarters of solid employment growth, however, firms are becoming more concerned that a shortage of professional staff may limit their business over the next year."
Some of the report's key findings:
• 41% of financial services firms said they felt more optimistic about the overall business situation compared with three months ago, while 7% said they were less optimistic, giving a balance of +34%
• 32% of firms said that business volumes were up, while 22% said they were down, giving a balance of +10%
• Looking ahead to the next quarter, 49% of firms expect business volumes to increase, while 3% say they will decrease, giving a balance of +46%.
• Income from fees, commissions or premiums was broadly stable in the three months to March (+4%), disappointing expectations for rapid growth (+39%)
• Income from net interest, investment or trading was also broadly flat (+5%)
• Total operating costs rose modestly in line with expectations (+27%), but volumes growth was sufficient to ensure that average costs were stable (-3%)
• As a result, total profits increased for the sixth consecutive quarter (+24%) and are expected to increase at a similar pace next quarter (+30%)
• However, firms expect a strong rise in total costs next quarter (+41% - the highest balance since 1990 when it was +50%), with average costs also expected to drift upwards to +14%, the highest balance since September 2004 (+16%).