UK manufacturing sector suffers job losses for first time in two years

Sector growth slows in September, prompting manufacturers to lay off workers, against backdrop of uncertain global outlook

Tough export markets and weaker consumer spending continued to take their toll on UK factories last month, prompting the first job losses for the sector in more than two years, according to a survey that echoed signs of manufacturing weakness around the world.

The performance at UK factories was lacklustre in September, when growth slipped to a three-month low. Against the backdrop of warnings about the uncertain outlook for global growth, eurozone manufacturing also lost momentum and output from Chinese factories continued to fall.