The demand for executives fell marginally in the fourth quarter of 1996, according to a survey by HAY MSL Ireland. There was strong growth in the full year, however, with an 8 per cent growth in the number of jobs advertised.

The figures indicate that 2,123 jobs were advertised in the fourth quarter of 1996. This was down on the 2,150 in the fourth quarter of 1995. The most buoyant sector was data processing which saw a rise from 443 to 565, and accountancy/finance with a more modest growth, from 241 to 287.

There was a contraction in the demand for engineers. Here the number of jobs advertised fell 824 to 696.