UK job market 'on road to recovery'

There has been a sharp rise in the number of permanent and temporary job placements, according to an industry report.

Research in the KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation Report On Jobs showed that last month saw the fastest growth in the permanent sales job market in two years, with temporary positions showing their sharpest climb in 16 months.

The report also found that the decline in salaries for both sectors has slowed, while candidate availability decreased.

Kevin Green, REC chief executive, said that these new figures illustrate that the UK jobs market is on the road to recovery.

"The demand for permanent recruitment is returning as employers start to hire people at an accelerating rate. Based on the latest findings, we anticipate that unemployment will not reach three million in 2010 as some predicted," he added.

Mr Green also commented that the data highlighted the UK's flexible labour market and a balanced attitude towards employment legislation in terms of keeping people in work.

Bernard Brown, head of business services at KPMG, added that the financial sales sectors such as banking and accounting were leading the recovery but there could be a jobs recession for public sector workers.

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By John Oak

Filed: 04-11-2009