The number of new job opportunities in April has increased year-on-year.

The number of new job opportunities in April has increased year-on-year, according to a new survey.

The Reed Job Index of new vacancies shows a 7 per cent rise compared to April 2011, although the Easter holidays prompted a 6 percent fall against the previous month. The Reed Job Index now stands at 134.

Martin Warnes, managing director of reed.co.uk says, ‘Last week's announcement that the economy entered a double dip recession in the first quarter of 2012 is, first and foremost, a confidence blow and contradicts the general trend for growth we've seen throughout the last 12 months.

‘The creation of new jobs in growth areas, such as energy, engineering and automotive, is helping give the recovery the momentum it needs. But with the high tax burden on employers recruiting new staff, now is the time for policymakers to ensure the path to a jobs-led recovery is a smooth one.’

While there were month-on-month vacancy falls in April for over half of the sectors examined, a third of these, including engineering (233), IT (172) and accountancy qualified (154), had index readings well above April’s national index of 134.

Demand for new staff working in the energy sector bounced back by 25 per cent compared with March and is 50 per cent up on last year to give an index reading of 126.

Salaries for new jobs have stayed 1 per cent lower in real terms than when the index was first set in December 2009. Down one index point from March, UK salaries continue to lag further behind inflation to give a Reed Salary Index reading of 98.

Vacancies available fell across all regions of the UK in April compared with March, however annual growth in new job opportunities was seen in nine of the 12 regions analysed including the East Midlands (up 19 per cent), East Anglia (up 12 per cent) and Northern Ireland (up 32 per cent).

See also: Promoting on-the-job training