More than 3 million workers fear they will lose their job in the next year because of the economic slowdown.

A study by the TUC showed that adults in Wales were least confident that they will still be working for their current employer in 12 months' time.

The survey of almost 3,000 workers across Britain showed that one in five people from Wales and 17 per cent from Scotland thought they might lose their job.

Workers in the East of England were most optimistic about their employment prospects, followed by those in London, Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "These poll findings show just how many people are getting worried about losing their job in the current economic slowdown. Of course this does not mean that unemployment will rise by anything like three million, but it does show just how jittery people have become about the economy and their own job.

"The economy will inevitably slow this year and next, given the credit crunch and the impact of higher oil, food and commodity prices. But there is a real danger that if everyone thinks that the downturn will be deeper than it needs to be it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"These findings add to the growing pressure on the Government and economic policy makers to put growth first by doing all they can to restore confidence and boost investment."

A total of 3.3 million people, 13 per cent of the workforce, were not confident they would still be in their job in a year's time, according to the report.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.