The number of overtime hours worked per person fell 9.5% in 2001, with 32% of workers taking no overtime at all, compared to 20% in 2000, said the Manpower Survey Report from the BPIF and Scottish Print Employers Federation.

The average printing company now has 29 employees, compared to 32 the previous year. However, the number of women in the industry has increased proportionally and they now account for a fifth of workers, compared to 18% in 1999.

BPIF head of external and corporate affairs Cicely Brown said: "An increase in shift working suggests staffing levels are more predictable with less reliance
on expensive overtime."