Employment in the UK service sector has declined markedly, according to a new survey.

The survey, from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) and NTC research, found, in their employment index, that employment in the service sector fell from 51.0 in April to 46.5 in May. This is the biggest decline in the survey’s history.

Roy Aycliffe, director of professional practice at the CIPS, said: “Employment levels in the sector contracted sharply in May as waning workloads led to a significant culling of jobs. Not surprisingly, the hotels and restaurants sector reported the strongest decline in staffing levels, reflecting consumers' cutting back on spending.”