JOB prospects will take a sharp dive in the next three months, going by a survey which shows that more employers plan to reduce their 'headcount'.

Almost half of more than 600 bosses polled recently intend to do so in the first three months of next year - up from the 10 per cent who said they would reduce staff between October and December this year.

They will cut jobs by not replacing staff who leave, by freezing hiring plans and via retrenchments.

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