The number of job cuts increased by 50% in the last quarter of 2008, but the number of civil contracts beginning in January increased. 

Figures from the Office for National Statistics found the redundancies in the three months to December had increased 50% on the previous quarter, when 31,000 lost their jobs. 

However, the latest figures show civil engineering recording its first year-on-year increase in contracts since June 2008. Construction market analyst Glenigan’s civil index increased by 18%.