THE Oxfordshire economy is booming, with companies performing well above the national average, according to a new report.

The report featuring the county's top 75 companies, compiled by Business Link Heart of England and business advisers Grant Thornton, shows that employment growth in the three years to 1996 was twice as high as the norm in the South East.

However, with a forecast of a further jobs and output boom over the next five years, the report warned: "With falls in unemployment and rises in the number of jobs, recruitment difficulties have become widespread across all occupations.

"At some high-level occupations in particular, skills shortages are starting to appear.

"The consequences of unsustainable growth in the future will be widespread skill shortages, wage inflation and potential loss of key employees."

Stephen Dexter, chairman of Business Link and managing partner of Grant Thornton's Oxford office, said: "This is our second annual report and shows a healthy increase in turnover of the top 75 companies. Any league table is open to challenge, but it clearly shows that Oxfordshire is booming.

"However, success in business terms is rarely measured over such a short term as one year. Each business should have a business plan covering a short, medium and long term."

The report names Perpetual, which has its headquarters at Henley, as the chart topper with an annual turnover of £1,275,700,000.

Amey, with a workforce of 4,875, jumped from seventh to top place in the chart based on the number of employees. Amey, with headquarters at Sutton Courtenay, also went up from 12th to eighth place.

The report, at £10, can be obtained from Laura Stuart-Lyon at Business Link on 0345 569569.

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