More manufacturing jobs could be set to become available in the UK, thanks to an improvement in the industry as a whole, as it enjoyed a fine start to 2012.

According to the latest report from Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, the number of jobs available in the sector may grow because manufacturing enjoyed its fastest growth in a year in January.

The two said that the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 52.1 in January, from 49.7 in the month before at the end of 2011.

It is hoped that this could lead to manufacturing seeing a return to growth in the first quarter of 2012, with the number of jobs being boosted as a result.

"The output index rose to a 10-month high, as new orders rose from both domestic and foreign buyers," said David Tinsley, UK economist at BNP Paribas.

Worldwide manufacturing has been boosted recently, with the US adding 18,000 jobs in January, according to the ADP.

Posted by Alex Donnell