The proportion of engineering contractors out of work for 90 days or more jumped by over a third (38%) in the last quarter, according to new research.

The research, from contractor services provider giant group, also shows 21.7% see job security as their prime concern when choosing a new job.

However, most contractors (66%) still expect a pay hike, while 11.3% think the best employment opportunities are to be found in the environmental sector.

Matthew Brown, managing director of giant, said: “As the UK economy slows and industrial output declines, demand for engineering contractors will inevitably taper off. The declining value of the pound, however, will make UK manufactured goods more competitive internationally and should partly offset weakening domestic demand.”