YORKSHIRE manufacturers have reported a sharp slowdown in growth.
A survey today showed that factory output in the region fell behind the North West, West Midlands and the North East during the past three months.
Figures from the EEF manufacturers’ group and accountancy firm BDO also showed a massive fall in recruitment intentions.
The fourth quarter Manufacturing Outlook showed the balance of companies reporting an increase in output fell from plus 21% to plus 7%. Total orders for the region also rose by a balance of 7%.
But job prospects took a hit with recruitment intentions for the last quarter at just plus 2% against plus 29% in the third quarter – the lowest figure in the North.
Predictions for the next three months see recruitment intentions plummet further to minus 18%.
The outlook for the first quarter of 2012 is just as gloomy – with manufacturers predicting a dramatic fall in output and orders to minus 21% and minus 10% respectively.
