JOB prospects in the Home Counties, including Buckinghamshire, are set to continue to rise in the first quarter of the year, according to the results of the latest survey from employment agency Manpower.

Companies are expected to take on more staff, continuing the year-on-year trend for the region, with healthcare in particular expecting a significant increase in vacancies.

Other areas where employment is likely to increase include financial services and contact centres.

The survey also pointed to a trend for some companies to reduce their core permanent staff opting for part-time or contract working.

Iain Herberton, managing director of Manpower, which has a branch in Oxford Road, High Wycombe, said: "All the signs point to achieving the holy grail of full employment.

"However, employers are now facing a different scenario to previous years skilled candidates are in short supply and therefore demand a variety of employment opportunities, with increased emphasis on work/life balance. A recent survey showed that four million people in Europe now want to work flexibly.

"Employers must have an imaginative resourcing strategy to manage this," added Mr Herbertson.

"Manpower is leading change in the way work can be done and expects to be a major factor in reaching and sustaining full employment."