bybusiness editor Trevor Sturgess

More jobs are likely to go in the next three months, according to a survey.

In the poll by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and KPMG, the business advice organisation with a Gatwick office covering Kent, the number of employers planning to make redundancies is higher than those expecting to take on staff.

The net employment outlook fell to a record low in the survey of 500 employers, with all sectors in the firing line.

In a sign that the recession is hitting all sectors of the economy, the net employment intentions figure is now negative for all three main sectors of the economy for the first time.

Although the private sector is most pessimistic, the public sector is now also recording a minus figure due to a rise in the number of redundancies, especially in local government. The voluntary sector is also beginning to lay off staff.

John Philpott, chief economist, said: "We’ve always said that the worst of the recession for the jobs market would be felt in the first part of 2009, and unfortunately we’re now finding ample evidence to support our predictions.

"It is unsurprising that the private sector is being hardest hit. But here is evidence for the first time that the public sector is beginning to feel the pain."

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