Apprenticeships offer a range of benefits for varying sectors, one expert says.

Employers across a number of sectors intend to grow their workforces over the next 12 months but are starting the year cautiously, new research has found.

According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC's) latest JobsOutlook report, while the picture is far from rosy there are some positive signs worth noting.

Among them is a likely increase in demand for temporary staff, while a fifth of those questioned said they intend to add to their permanent workforce.

Just under three-quarters plan to maintain current staff levels, while just five per cent stated they would let workers go.

Roger Tweedy, the REC's director of research, said that the increase in VAT coupled with the public sector squeeze is likely to mean employers will play it safe in the early part of the year.

"Though the labour market does show signs of stabilising, the first three months of this year could see a few jitters which is why the majority of employers are planning to keep their permanent workforce static," he noted.

According to the Graduate Market in 2011 report by High Fliers, three fifths of employers believe that those with no previous work experience are highly unlikely to find a job.
 

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