Public sector job vacancies in Shropshire are up more than 35 per cent since last year, according to employment statistics.

Figures show a rise of more than a third in jobs available from November last year to January.

This is compared to the same time period 12 months before.

Collated by employment and skills specialists Working Links, the figures claim it is the second biggest increase in vacancies in the West Midlands.

The jump in the number of vacancies in the county has been described as a “curious statistic” which compilers of the survey say could be down to the 2011 Census — with vacancies cropping up around November time for scores of positions including collectors and interviewers.

Working Links’ Midlands team manager Laurie Scott said: “Despite what the official figures show, we are seeing a lot of activity in the retail sector.

“While the figures show an increase in the public sector, it is important to emphasise jobs related to the UK Census are temporary and, if we put those positions aside, public sector vacancies are still falling considerably.

“On the flip-side, we are not seeing much activity in administration. However, we are hoping to see more vacancies in construction in the near future.

“We are helping employers by putting on job fairs and running training courses to help provide them with candidates.

“We are also inviting employers to see for themselves the work that we are doing to help them and to speak to job seekers about what they can offer.

“Employers in the region are generally looking for candidates that are flexible.”