A third of bosses are planning to take on more secretaries and support staff in 2008, according to a Guardian survey.

The SecsLife survey, an online poll of employers and secretaries and office workers conducted by Gordon Yates for the Guardian, said 38% of managers took on more staff in 2007 and a third plan to employ more staff this year.

The study, which questioned 308 employers and 843 staff also found that 53% of employees are less satisfied in their jobs than last year.

More secretaries and PAs chose the Guardian and guardianjobs.co.uk to look for a new job than any other media according to the survey with 33% using it for job hunting compared to 18% using The Times and 17% a local newspaper.

Difficulty in recruiting experienced support staff continued last year with only 8% of employers finding it easier to recruit skilled secretaries and PAs and 30% finding it more difficult.

Over three quarters of Office Hours readers, the guardians support staff recruitment supplement, are degree educated.

*See Sector analysis, Recruiter, 30 January issue for more information on the sector