• A breakdown of workforce figures shows the number of people employed in
manufacturing has dropped by 163,000 since September 1997.
Other sectors that have seen a reduction in jobs include agriculture and
fishing which has seen a drop of 86,000.
However, the construction industry has experienced an increase of 44,000
from a total of 1,756,000 two-and-a-half years ago.
The number of jobs in finance and business services sector rose by 326,000
while in transport and communications there are an extra 112,000 jobs.
The figures also identify a further 67,000 posts in distribution, hotels and
restaurants.
