THE demand for executives increased by 20 per cent from 769 in the first quarter of 1995 to 2,115 in the first quarter of 1996, according to the latest survey from HAY-MSL, the recruitment group.

Engineering, data processing and sales are particularly buoyant. The survey, based on the jobs advertised in the national newspapers, shows a rise in the number of vacancies for engineers from 538 to 704 for data processors from 384 to 469 and for sales/marketing executives from 82 to 112.

The number of jobs in personnel almost doubled from 32 to 60. Accountancy and finance vacancies increased from 260 to 296. However, the 2,115 vacancies in the first quarter of this year were somewhat below the 2,150 in the fourth quarter of 1995.