The number of UK job opportunities is continuing to grow, despite recent figures showing a contraction in the economy.
This is according to the latest figures from the Reed Job Index, which found that the number of jobs posted online in July 2012 was 13% higher than the same time last year and 2.5% higher than in June.
In contrast, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, based on preliminary estimates of growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), showed that the economy had contracted by 0.7% in the second quarter of 2012.
However, the Reed Job Index, which is based on the number of jobs posted on Reed’s online job board, found that some of the regions hardest hit by the recession saw growth in job opportunities in July, with the North-East seeing an increase of 6% in job postings and the West Midlands seeing a 5% rise.
Martin Warnes, managing director of reed.co.uk, said: “The Reed Job Index has been reporting an improving jobs market since the third quarter of 2011 and it’s great to see this positive trend continuing this month.
“Our figures show that the economy may be in a healthier position than other macro-economic indicators, such as the recent GDP numbers, would suggest.”
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He added that the recent announcements of large-scale investments in workforces in the West Midlands and the North-East from Jaguar Land Rover and Hitachi should further support the growth in job opportunities in these areas.
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