Remploy, the UK's provider of employment services for disabled people, and Dyslexia Action have signed a national agreement which will see hundreds of people being supported into, or remain in, employment. Chief Executive of Dyslexia Action, Shirley Cramer, says: "Around £370 million is spent on people with dyslexia who have been excluded from school, are long-term unemployed or who are on probation or in prison."

Recent bad weather has increased absence rates by 7.5% in January, translating to a cost of £2.7m says Aaron Ross, manager director of FirstCare, the UK's day one absence management provider. "FirstCare has seen an eight-fold increase in the number of people staying away from work, citing transport problems," says Ross.

According to a new report from the USA's Leading Indicator of National Employment (LINE), there will be slightly more hiring in manufacturing and less in services in the US during February 2007, compared to February 2006. Slightly more manufacturers expect to expand their workforces this February than February 2006 (56.5% vs 52.5%). In the service sector, more firms expect to reduce their workforce this month than in February 2006 (18.7% vs 11.4%).

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) recruitment-to-recruitment group has revealed its latest diversity researc h. Of those companies contacted, 412 placements were made; 51% were male and 49% female. Ethnicity results showed 79% were white British, 8% white of a different nationality and 13% comprise all other ethnicities.