Among the flurry of job cuts announced by UK companies last week, some raised more eyebrows than others. Not because of their size, or their importance to the economy, but because they came from sectors that until now seemed immune to the economic downturn.

The construction industry is in tatters, the financial sector is retrenching and advertising spending is in freefall. Job cuts from companies such as concrete supplier Ennstone, fund manager Fidelity International and the Independent newspaper came as little surprise.