Both unemployment and vacancy figures have bounced back to present an optimistic view of Coventry and Warwickshire continuing to cope with the slowdown in the economy.

"As our analysts forecast last month, a post Christmas blip has turned into a promise of continuing inroads into unemployment-with an overall increase in jobs on offer by 42 per cent,"

said a spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise.

"But it is a case of the service sector more than replacing the loss of jobs in manufacturing. There is a strong case for a further half per cent cut in the Bank rate this month to help our manufacturers, especially exporters, to cope with difficult times."

Unemployment in Coventry went up marginally-but not enough to change the average percentage of 5.4-whereas the West Midlands average moved up from 4.7 to 4.8 per cent.

The jobless figure in Warwickshire moved down a point to 2.8 per cent, with only Rugby showing a small increase.

The number of vacancies shot up in all areas-the smallest being an increase of 22 per cent in North Warwickshire.

The Chamber is also starting a new analysis service-this month looking at where the jobs are-and which ones are proving difficult to fill.

"As well as helping would-be employees, this is also valuable information for employers when considering wage levels," the spokesman said.

"We will be looking at a variety of aspects in the coming months in order to provide further help for the planning which we and our partners put in to improving the economic welfare of Coventry and Warwickshire."

Most vacancies in the previous month were in the personal/security services sector, at 2,179-with 835 unfilled.

Second was clerical/secretarial-1,787 vacancies, 727 unfilled.

Sales came third, with 1,440 openings, and 820 going begging.

Most plant and machine jobs were snapped up, with only 338 out of 1,206 vacancies unfilled.

The Chamber's analysts are also looking at which sectors are providing most vacancies.

They found that hotel and restaurants accounted for almost 30 per cent.

Adding in banking/finance, at 20 per cent, public administration/education/health, at 17.5 per cent, and 14 per cent in manufacturing-showed that these four groups accounted for eight out of ten vacancies.

The figures for these top four sectors were:

* Hotels/restaurants/distribution-2,735 vacancies, 1,153 unfilled;

* Banking/finance-1,939 vacancies, 1,031 unfilled;

* Public admin/education/health-1,616 vacancies, 651 unfilled;

* Manufacturing-1,339 vacancies, 523 unfilled.

District figures:

Coventry - Jobless up 17 to 8,246. New vacancies: up 586 at 1,860.

Rugby - Jobless up 11 to 1,214. New vacancies: up 70 to 258.

North Warwickshire - Jobless down 26 to 866. New vacancies up 10 to 56.

Nuneaton and Bedworth - Jobless down 58 to 2,134. New vacancies: up 96 at 367.

Stratford-upon-Avon - Jobless down 17 to 1,114. New vacancies: up 40 at 181. Warwick - Jobless down 20 to 1,7 8 1. New vacancies: up 104 at 348.

Totals Coventry and Warwickshire: Jobless down 93 at 15,355. Vacancies up 906 at 3,070.