Demand for both permanent and contract researchers is expected to increase this year in the United Kingdom across several sectors that employ scientists, according to a survey of employers. Slough-based recruitment company SRG found that 29.5% of respondents expect to boost numbers of permanent scientific staff in 2010. Fields surveyed included pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, oil and petrochemicals, health care, research institutes and government agencies. About half of the employers in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sector expect to have open permanent research positions, and none is forecasting cutbacks. More than 550 employers completed the survey.