Manufacturing industry jobs rose strongly in the US during February 2011, marking 17 consecutive months of employment growth.

This is according to the country's Institute for Supply Management (ISM), which has published its latest figures for the sector showing work in the field climbed sharply over the period from January.

Standing at 61.7 the previous month, the employment index jumped to 64.5 in February, with any number above 50 indicative of growth.

As a result, those seeking engineering jobs in the UK may find securing such roles easier, as the ISM's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing climbed from 60.8 in January to 61.4 in February.

Norbert Ore, chair of the ISM's manufacturing business survey committee, stated: "New orders are growing significantly faster than inventories, and the customers' inventories index indicates supply chain inventories will require continuing replenishment."

Meanwhile, the JPMorgan and Markit Global Manufacturing PMI revealed the sector hit a joint second-highest level of 57.8 in February 2011, pushing up jobs in the industry.

Posted by Fiona Summers