Less than half the region's workforce (45 per cent) is very confident of being in the same job in a year. Across Britain more than 3.3 million workers (13 per cent of the workforce) say they may not have their current job in a year's time.

Workers in medium-sized firms are the least confident with 18 per cent of staff in those with 50 to 249 workers saying they are not confident of being in their jobs in a year, compared to 12 per cent in big firms (more than 1,000 staff).

Those in low-paid jobs are less secure than those in better-paid jobs. The least confident earn less than £15,000, the most confident more than £50,000.

Union members are more optimistic than non-members, with 48 per cent of trade unionists very confident that they will be in their job in a year's time, compared to 40 per of workers not in a union.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "These findings show just how jittery people have become about the economy and their own job."