The number of jobs available in the services sector is growing at a record pace thanks to an unexpectedly high increase in business among services firms.
This is the conclusion of a new survey by the CBI, which found that despite four interest rate rises in the last ten months, demand for consumer and professional services has remained strong.
As a result, jobs in professional services, particularly in areas such as property, law and accounting, are growing at their fastest rate in almost ten years.
Meanwhile in the consumer services sector employment is rising at its fastest rate in two years, with areas such as travel, leisure and hospitality performing particularly well.
"The importance of the service sector to the UK economy cannot be overstated," said Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI. "Today, it is the largest employer and a source of national competitive advantage."
According to official government figures, the services sector accounted for 55 per cent of all jobs in the UK at the end of 2006.
Growth in the service sector rose by 0.9 per cent in the final quarter of last year followed by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
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