Shares plunge 50% as Rok confirms white-collar jobs will be hardest hit

Rok is to cut a total of 750 jobs following a profit warning for the third quarter of 2008.

The figure represents a 15% reduction in the contractor鈥檚 total workforce, predominantly in white-collar roles.

The share price of the UK contractor fell more than 50% to 35p in early trading.

Rok blamed the credit crunch for an expected 拢120m fall in 2008 turnover from previous predictions. It is expected to hit the bottom line by 拢12m.

Rok announced that committed projects totaling 拢150m had been cancelled or deferred because customers were 鈥渦nable or unwilling to access cash linked to the current banking sector crisis鈥�.

The firm鈥檚 warning referred to contracting, small building works and social housing operations from both private and public sector clients.

The 拢20m cost savings announced today come on top of the 拢10m announced in September that saw 200 jobs go. Thirty jobs went in August.

A Rok spokeswoman said the company was still looking to recruit 500 people in its maintenance division reducing the overall net lost to 250.

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