Statistics in the 2004 Annual Regional Press Survey show that 10,393 employees, including part-timers, worked in regional newspaper press and production on 31 December 2004.

That was 14% more than the previous year, but the report, which will surprise those who believe that newspaper print jobs are in decline, shows that the total number of jobs was equal to 9,804 full-time workers, up 31.8% during the year.

Distribution, which employs 4,006 including part-timers, showed the same trend, with a 20.7% increase in equivalent full-time positions to 3,178.

Meanwhile, newsprint accounted for 298.1m in costs during the year, equal to 13% of the industry's total costs. Distribution represented 5%, or 116.2m, of costs during the year.

Contract print revenues for the sector fell by 22% to 158.3m, representing just 3.7% of a total 4.3bn turnover. Advertising accounted for 3.1bn of that total.

The results were based on responses from newspaper groups accounting for 75% of all regional press titles and 71% of total weekly circulation.

Story by Josh Brooks