FIGURES released by the National Office of Statistics show that employment in the South West has been stable over the year to January 2003.

The employment rate for the three months to January 2003 is at 79 per cent, unchanged from the previous year.

Manpower's regional manager, Mike Banyard, said: "These figures reflect our experience of the current employment market in the South West. Despite economic uncertainty, jobs are being created and there are good opportunities for temporary and permanent work in the region."

Manpower's Quarterly Survey of Employment Prospects asks more than 2,000 UK companies if they expect an increase, decrease or no change in their staffing levels for the quarter ahead.