Job losses expected in manufacturing, says Manpower

General manufacturing is now among the worst of sectors in the UK for employee prospects, according to the latest Manpower quarterly survey. It’s fallen 10 points quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year. Says Manpower’s Hazel Detsiny: “Employment prospects in manufacturing as a whole are below the national average. ‘Other manufacturing’ in the survey covers three main groups: manufacturers of small parts; large-scale machinery; and domestic appliances. The sector contributes to poor employment prospects in UK manufacturing, which has reported a net balance of 4%, well below the national average of 11%. This is the lowest Q2 result for four years and the second successive quarter-on-quarter fall, suggesting the recent rally in prospects for manufacturing may be over. Five of the seven manufacturing sectors remain below the national average, including textiles, automotive, electronics and chemicals. Only wood and paper, and food and beverages are performing better on this measure. Manpower also says it’s discovered further evidence of an emergent north/south employment divide. The North West is now the best region for jobs, with a net balance of 18% of employers set to recruit staff this quarter. The North East has also reported its highest Q2 balance in 10 years. And Wales is in good shape with a net balance of 16% upping employment. But the South West and South East are both below the national average, each reporting a net balance of 9%, the weakest Q2 job prospects in these regions since the early 1990s. Greater London, with a net balance of 7%, lies joint bottom, with Scotland.