Job satisfaction has plummeted to a record low and nearly one in five workers are worried they could lose their jobs, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

A survey of 2,000 employees showed that two-thirds of workers think it would be hard to find another position if they were made redundant.

Public sector worker are the most anxious, the survey found. A quarter think they could be made redundant and just 16pc say they trust management.

The CIPD's quarterly job satisfaction index has dived to 35, down from a peak of 46 last summer.

Ben Willmott of the CIPD, said: "Today's official GDP figures may suggest that the UK economy is continuing to move away from recession, however the reality for many in the workplace is that they still feel like they are in the grip of a severe economic downturn."

He added it was "worrying" public sector staff increasingly distrusted managers and called on employers to involve staff in tough decisions.