However news of the extra jobs came on the same day that a survey suggested that fears of unemployment are growing in most parts of the UK.

American printer manufacturer Lexmark is creating up to 400 hundred jobs at its factory in Fife. The multi-million pound investment will double the work-force at the Rosyth plant, which makes ink cartridges for PCs and photocopiers.

The boost to the economy of Fife has come at a crucial time. Earlier this year the Korean company, Hyundai, announced it had called a halt to further work on a multi-million pound semi-conductor factory at Dunfermline. That had been expected to create 2000 jobs.

The Hyundai plant is finished - but lying empty, alongside a specially built motorway interchange.

Another 400 jobs are to be created in Deeside, north Wales. Toprak Ceramics, which makes ceramic tiles and bathroom suites, is to become the first Turkish manufacturer to invest in Wales by setting up a new £45m plant.

But the survey from economic consultancy Business Strategies said that people were increasingly worried about their job prospects. Optimism has plunged in Scotland, the North West, East Anglia and the East Midlands.

The growing fears come in the wake of 1,500 job losses at car maker Rover and a Confederation of Industry report showing that business confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the last recession.