• Although average labour turnover remains stable at about 20 per cent there
has been a dramatic rise in some areas of the economy.
The number of people leaving their jobs rose slightly to 20.6 per cent from
19.8 per cent in 1997, according to the IRS Employment Trends Survey.
But turnover increased among professional staff and in craft and skilled
occupations.
In particular, accountants, lawyers and doctors have experienced a growing
demand for their skills.
The survey also highlights the rise in turnover among craft and skilled
manual occupations, which almost doubled.
But while turnover of professional staff is put down to a greater demand,
craft and skilled manual staff turnover is attributed to a period of sustained
job losses that has forced them out of work.
