Despite credit-crunch worries and instability in the financial markets,the sector showing the largest increase in jobs was the finance andbusiness services sector. Mining, energy and water supply industries'jobs also increased - up by 4,000 -over the same period to reach167,000. The unemployment level was 1.61 million in the three months toDecember 2007, down 61,000 in the three months to September 2007 anddown 86,000 compared to the same time a year earlier.
According to National Statistics, not only is the jobless figure goingdown, but the number of vacancies is still going up. In February thenumber of jobs being advertised was 677,400 - up by 7,300 on theprevious quarter. Commenting on similar findings in the KPMG/Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Report on Jobs, HelenReynolds, acting CEO of the Confederation, said: "On a general level,there are still drivers for the demand for staff. Factors such as theimminent change in workforce demographics and the need to replaceretiring employees will mean that employers will need to rely ontemporary and permanent employees to meet resourcing challenges, keepingthe labour market buoyant."
