Outsourcing is creating more jobs in the UK than are being lost abroad, according to an Oxford academic.

Overall, the UK is gaining far more jobs than it is losing to countries such as India and China, says Mari Sako, a professor of management studies at Oxford University’s Said Business School.

Sako says this is evident from data she has looked at from the National Statistics Office.

‘A lot of the UK outsourcing job creation is within data services, labour placement agencies and other areas, such as professional services, accounting, consulting, architectural design and so on,’ she said.

Sako says there is every reason to be optimistic about the future of outsourcing.

She says that, in comparison with other European countries, the UK is well ahead in outsourcing because of its close-knit business community.

‘This close-knit community forms a network of lawyers, consultants and accountants, who provide advice for companies considering issues such as relationships, legal contracts, financing and investment,’ she said.

‘If one were to project forward and look into the future, you will see Britain continuing to create jobs in business services, and continuing to have a trade surplus in all branches of business services,’ Sako added.