Outlook for jobs is on the up in the region

Net hiring intentions in the region have increased to +4 per cent, but still lag behind the national average, which stands at +6 per cent.

Amanda White, operations manager at Manpower, said: “While the region is still a little below the national average, it’s pleasing to see an improving outlook for jobs in Yorkshire and Humberside.”

York and Hull reported strong jobs markets, in the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. York saw steady increases across sectors and strong demand for qualified trades and customer services.

Hull saw a strong demand for those with technical and IT skills, along with applicants who have experience in customer service.

But it is a less positive picture across the region, with the South Yorkshire market stable but not bullish, while the Leeds market, impacted by falling oil prices, remains cautious.

James Hick, managing director at Manpower Group Solutions, told The Yorkshire Post that the reason why Yorkshire was lagging behind the national average was down to the types of industry in the region.

He said: “The key thing that affects this is the type of industries that are in the region. For example Scotland is -1 per cent and the reason for this is the big downturn in the oil and gas sector.

“There are a number of large employers in the Leeds and Dewsbury area who manufacture for the oil and gas sector.”

Mr Hick said he believes that the oil and gas sector still faces a difficult time.

He said: “I think it’s uncertain at the moment. It looks like this year is going to be very difficult over the next six months. It looks a bit bleak for the people employed in that sector.”

In addition to uncertainty over oil and gas, the financial sector isn’t as confident as other markets, further impacting employment outlook in Leeds.

Mr Hick said: “The financial sector is less positive.

“If you look at the national picture what we see is financial and business services sector as a whole at net +8, when you look at the utilities sector it’s +18, much higher.” Manpower said utilities hiring was set to surge, as the big six energy providers cut prices and focus increasingly on customer service.”

The figures are, on the whole, positive. “I think it shows we still have a strong economy and a growing economy in terms of jobs,” said Mr Hick.

But he warned of the uncertainty in the run-up to the general election over matters such as the UK’s membership in the EU.

“Uncertainty doesn’t help any business,” he said.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on responses from 2,100 UK employers.

It asks whether employers intend to hire additional workers or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter.

A sector by sector outlook

In terms of jobs by sector, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector saw hiring intentions at -2 per cent. While construction was below the national average of six per cent across all sectors, at five per cent.

Manufacturing reported positive hiring figures at net ten per cent.

Finance and business services was at +8 per cent, while the electricity, gas and water sector reported outlook of +18 per cent – an eight-year high in employment outlook in the utilities sector.

Public sector outlook jumped above private sector for only the second time in the past four years.