UK job market stands firm, say REC

The UK jobs market is continuing to grow, albeit slowly, reveal separate reports today from Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) in association with KPMG.The REC/KPMG ‘Report on Jobs’ survey notes that while permanent placements increased in May, this was at the weakest rate of growth in the current five-month period of expansion. Meanwhile, temporary placements decreased for the sixth consecutive month and at the fastest pace in nearly two years.

The Midlands remained the strongest performer across the English regions in terms of both permanent and temporary jobs during May, while London continued to underperform, says the REC report.   By industry, it says demand for staff was seen to have risen at the fastest rates in the IT and engineering/construction sectors – these sectors have seen growth in workers recruited for permanent roles in every month of this year.Engineering and construction was also the sector with the biggest growth in demand on the temp side, ahead of nursing, medical and care, while IT saw a decline in demand.

It also shows a North/South divide, with the South clearly the better area for job and recruitment prospects. The study also identifies that big business are more optimistic than at any time since 2010.