Manufacturing jobs on the increase

News Article - 06 August 2010
Category: Business

According to the Reed Job Index, employer demand in the manufacturing sector has risen to its highest level (116 points) since December last year. The Index is a monthly tracker that compares new job opportunities and salaries on offer to the previous month, against a baseline of 100 set the previous December. It uses data compiled from UK job website, reed.co.uk.

In the rest of the economy, job demand remains stagnant with a one point fall in July to 102, compared to the two previous months.

Throughout the UK, employer demand has varied, with new jobs in London down on the previous month with an Index figure of 98. In the surrounding South East area, demand has risen on last month. A similar picture is reported in the North East and South West of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Record level increases were also experienced in the general insurance, accountancy and charity staff sectors, suggesting the vast improvements experienced by manufacturing are slowly starting to be seen in other areas. As a general trend, demand in the public sector is slipping slightly whilst a section of dominant private sectors are leading recovery.

The picture suggests a generally positive direction for UK economic recovery as a whole. Whilst employers remain nervous regarding the long-term sustainability of economic recovery, leading sectors - such as manufacturing - were able to outpace economic recovery and lead the way for future growth.

Manufacturers should remain cautious, however, and not get complacent. Industry experts expect product demand to slip slightly over the next quarter, which could have a knock-on effect to recruitment. Manufacturers should tackle internal inefficiencies to ensure operations remain effective in any economic climate.

With regard to employment, Access SFDC and Production Time Recording can help by allowing full labour traceability across all departments. By identifying inefficiencies and the actual cost of activities, companies can look for ways to increase profit margins by making changes that yield the biggest potential value.

For more information, please contact Access on 0845 345 3300.

Article keywords: business news, manufacturing, industry news, business software, accounting solutions, Access UK, The Access Group

---

More industry news

• Think tank warns UK may have already slipped back into recession
• Growing demand for HR staff in technology and international sectors
• Boosting business growth a ‘priority’ to avoid Eurozone slowdown
• HMRC launches alternative disputes pilot scheme this week
• December employment statistics disregard gloomy recruitment predictions
• Eurozone manufacturing PMI shows modest improvement
• UK scores highly for economic governance by ratings agency
• Government launches two-year project focusing on manufacturing sector
• Burden of regulation on UK businesses ‘too high’

Back to news home page »