Signs of growth in jobs market

11/09/2009

A return to growth in the jobs market may be on the cards according to new figures suggesting an August increase in temporary and permanent appointments.

The September jobs report, compiled by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), recorded the first growth of permanent appointments for 17 months and the first increase in temporary posts for over a year.

Reductions in wages and pay were the slowest seen for 10 months while the decrease in available vacancies also slowed.

Kevin Green, chief executive of the REC, said:?“For the first time in 17 months, this month's report shows signs that the UK jobs market is improving.

“The stabilisation in the jobs environment must not be put at risk by the introduction of ill-designed regulation like the Agency Workers Directive. This legislation needs careful consideration to avoid putting jobs at risk and must not be introduced until the last possible moment in 2011.”

Green said that unemployment would continue into 2010 and called on the government, employers and recruitment businesses to ‘work more effectively together to build on these green shoots and safeguard the recovery of the jobs market’.