New jobs on offer rise 12 per cent

Fresh signs of a thaw in Britain's economy emerged from jobs figures that showed the number of new posts in the UK rose by 12 per cent last month.

All but two of the 33 sectors analysed in recruitment giant Reed's monthly Job Index advertised more jobs last month than in January. The highest growth was seen in the charity and voluntary, social care and education sectors, which recorded increases of 66 per cent, 45 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.

Every area of the UK had more job opportunities last month, Reed said, with the West Midlands recording the strongest growth year-on-year, followed by North East England and the East Midlands. In London, the number of new job opportunities was up by 10 per cent year on year.