Latest data signalled higher levels of availability for permanent workers in June. Nevertheless, panellists continued to indicate skill shortages for a range of specific job types.

The availability of candidates to fill permanent job roles increased for a fifth consecutive month in June. Although quickening to the fastest since February, the rate of growth remained only modest.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

The survey reports that the number of people placed in permanent jobs increased for a twenty-second consecutive month in May, although the rate of expansion of placements slowed to the weakest since October 2010.

“Within invoice finance and leasing finance, the trend in vacancies is very much upwards – and we expect to see the trend in placements in these two of our specialist sectors continue to grow as these funders increase the level of finance they provide to SMEs within UK PLC” said John Peters, Commercial Finance People director.

He went on to say “However, the increase in demand for good people is revealing a potential skills gap. There are currently some excellent job opportunities in the invoice finance/ABL and leasing sectors. However, with confidence fragile, many talented people are reluctant to consider their next career move, with the result that finding people who can ‘hit the ground running’ is even harder than normal.  Skills shortages and transferable skills are set to become industry issues as the economy continues to recover.”

Weaker rise in candidate availability

Although the availability of candidates to fill permanent and temporary jobs improved further in May, in both cases the pace of growth eased since the previous month.

Availability of permanent staff

Recruitment consultants signalled a rise in the availability of permanent staff for the fourth month running in May. However, the rate of improvement was only marginal and slightly weaker than in April.

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Permanent placements increased at faster pace

Permanent staff appointments rose at a strong and accelerated rate in April, although growth remained below February’s ten-month high. The increase was attributed by panellists to a further marked rise in demand for permanent staff.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

The overall level of vacancies available for staff seeking employment rose for an eighteenth consecutive month in March. Furthermore, the rate of growth quickened to its highest since April 2010. This was signalled by the Report on Jobs Vacancies Index rising to 60.8 from 60.4 in February.

Demand for permanent staff rose at a stronger rate in March. The latest increase in vacancies was the sharpest since April 2010. This was indicated by the Permanent Staff Vacancies Index recording 60.9, up from 60.4.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

Strongest rise in permanent placements for ten months

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

Growth of permanent placements at six-month high…

The number of people placed in permanent jobs by recruitment consultancies increased further in January, bringing the current period of expansion to one-and-a-half years. Moreover, the rate of growth accelerated to the fastest since last July. Survey respondents commented on stronger demand for staff and improved client confidence as the main factors underpinning growth of placements.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

Key points from Markit’s December survey:

• Growth of permanent placements remained solid despite easing slightly.
• Stronger rise in demand for staff.
• Permanent salaries increased at faster pace.
• Improved availability of short-term staff dampened temp pay inflation.

Commenting on the latest survey results, Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG said, “The latest data suggests again that the UK job market is on the road to recovery as growth of permanent placements remained solid and demand for staff rose strongly. A look at the sectors indicates that the private sector is mainly responsible for the overall positive picture, with IT and computing as well as executive and professional staff most in demand. Whilst demand has been strong, we are entering a critical phase for the UK job market with two big question marks. First, the impact of government cut backs in public sector spend and employment, which should start to bite over the coming months. Second, the impact of the recent VAT increase and whether this will affect UK consumer demand and job creation.”

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

Rise in candidate availability
Signs of a loosening job market were apparent in October as staff availability increased. Recruitment consultants indicated higher levels of availability for both permanent and temporary candidates.

Availability of permanent staff
The availability of staff to fill short-term vacancies rose for the first time in four months during October. Although modest, the rate of improvement was the sharpest since April.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

As might be expected, KPMG’s latest Report on Jobs shows a wide disparity in recruitment activity within different sectors and further results from the ONS reported a wide divergence in trends between industries. On the one hand, a number of private sector categories which saw sharp downturns in the recession have since posted strong recoveries.

These include IT & communication and finance & insurance, which had the highest vacancy levels per thousand jobs in the three months to August. Hospitality, personal services, retail and professional vacancies have also recovered well and are among the fastest-growing sectors.

In contrast, those job categories most exposed to government spending cuts have seen deteriorating vacancy trends. By far the hardest hit so far has been public administration, which saw a 65% year-on-year drop in vacancies in the three months to August and the lowest ratio of available positions to existing jobs of all categories.

Education and healthcare vacancies also showed negative year-on-year changes, although in the case of the latter the fall was only slight. Meanwhile, the construction sector is a notably weak performer, reflecting its exposure to squeezed public sector budgets and still fragile commercial development activity.

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit

A slight downturn in August is in line with previous years’, but the trend remains positive.  However, the impact on the private sector of public sector cuts is yet to be seen. 

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Report on Jobs contributed by Markit