The Reed Job Index, published today, revealed that in December the requirement for public sector workers had dropped to 36 from the baseline of 100 recorded in December 2009. This is a 15% drop on the demand level of 42 recorded at the end of 2010.

Other public service areas, such as health and social care, also recorded slumps. The vacancy rate fell to 64 in social care and to 88 in health and medicine.

Overall, job opportunities were up by an average of 17% compared with December 2010, and by a fifth on December 2009. Last year as a whole showed sustained growth in demand for new workers, particularly for those in technical roles, such as engineers, IT and telecommunications specialists.

Jobs in construction, sales, tourism and accountancy were all above average.

Martin Warnes, managing director of reed.co.uk, said: ‘The year on year increase in demand for new staff is particularly striking against the backdrop of economic turmoil in the last few months.’

But Warnes added that it was ‘impossible to predict’ the shape of the job market in 2012 and the impact of any coming economic challenges.

‘However, right now, UK employers are not only investing in new talent to fill their immediate needs, they are clearly planning for growth in 2012,’ he said.