Job opportunities in Yorkshire and Humberside remain buoyant, according to a national survey of over 2,000 employers by Manpower, the global employment services company.

In this region, 21 per cent of employers forecast an increase in job prospects while 12 per cent expect a decrease. The balance of nine per cent is only two per cent down on the figures for the same period last year and above the national average.

Jane Ennis, of Manpower, said: "These figures are good news for this region, but that does not mean we must be complacent. In Yorkshire and Humberside we need continued investment in training and development if businesses in the region are to continue to grow.

Employers in electronics remain buoyant, but the largest fall in employers' confidence for job prospects is in the general engineering industry. The sector registered a 17-year low, while textile manufacturers also registered a decline in employment prospects for the coming quarter.

While the manufacturing sector trails the survey, closer examination reveals a more complex picture. Although all manufacturing industries are experiencing a significant decline in job prospects, those in export-related industries appear to be worst hit.

Employment confidence in private and public building, however, continues to perform well, with employers recording a balance of 20 and 13 percentage points respectively, well above average.

The Public Sector seems to be stabilising with employment prospects one per cent lower than the second quarter of 1998.

Telecommunications continues to lead the Sector and the Survey, with a balance of 30 percentage points, and is 22 points above the national average.

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