A rise in unemployment in Sussex has had little effect on the county's job market.

In Brighton and Hove, the number of people looking for work actually fell, bucking the national trend.

Figures from the Department of Employment put the jobless figure at 5,025 (up 291) in East Sussex and 4,802 (up 892) in West Sussex.

Even the jobs blackspots of Hastings and Brighton and Hove, with 3.6 per cent of the workforce looking for employment, have better figures than many parts of the country.

The stock market slide has had little impact on jobs and confidence among employers is strong but cautious.

The biggest project under way is the Rolls-Royce assembly plant at Goodwood, where recruitment for skilled people has started.

The complex is training staff and will become fully operational in November.

Carte Blanche, the biggest manufacturer of greetings cards in the South-East, has earmarked the Chichester Business Park for its new factory and warehouse.

Varian Medical Systems, a leader in the fight against cancer, is one of the heathcare companies taking on staff in the north of the county and American Express, Lloyds TSB and NTL are all recruiting for their call centres.

Agencies are targeting the area for further development with Nurselink choosing Hove for its new office and Hays Inter opening an office in Brighton next week.