The UK jobs market is flatlining, with only one in five employers planning on increase staff headcount in the next quarter, while a West-East divide has emerged, show the results of Manpower’s UK Employment Outlook.

The net employment outlook figure dropped from +1% in the previous quarter to 0%, its lowest in two years, indicating a flatlining jobs market, although the utilities sector reported hiring intentions of +13% and the manufacturing sector +5%.

All of the regions in the West of the country - Northern Ireland, the North-West, the West Midlands, Wales and the South-West registered negative employment outlooks, while those in the East and Centre of the country - the North East, the East Midlands, the East of England, the South-East in London - were positive. The Scottish outlook was 0%.

Among these, the North-East showed the most optimism at +10%, followed by the East Midlands with +7%.

Manpower’s UK managing director Mark Cahill says: “We should not lose sight of the fact that there are still hundreds of thousands of vacancies out there. Employers continue to look for skilled and motivated candidates who show a real desire and determination to work.”