Report on UK Jobs – April 2015

The Report on UK Jobs is unique in providing the most comprehensive guide to the UK jobs market, drawing on original survey data provided by recruitment consultancies and employers to provide the first indication each month of labour  market trends.

The main findings for April are:

Permanent placements growth accelerates…

The number of people placed in permanent jobs by recruitment consultants continued to rise in April. Moreover, the rate of expansion quickened to an eight-month high. This reflected
a stronger increase in demand for staff, with permanent vacancies rising at the fastest pace since October 2014.

…but temp billings rise at slower rate

Agencies’ short-term staff billings increased further in April, but the latest rise was the slowest in six months. This corresponded with a moderation in the rate of growth of demand for temporary/contract staff to the least marked since January.

Pay growth strengthens…

Growth of permanent staff salaries accelerated to a nine- month high in April, with panellists highlighting a combination of strong demand and skill shortages. Hourly rates of pay for temporary/contract staff meanwhile increased at the fastest pace since July 2007.

…amid tight candidate availability

The availability of staff to fill permanent roles deteriorated further in April, with the rate of contraction accelerating to the sharpest in five months. Temporary/contract staff availability meanwhile declined at a marked pace that was similar to that seen in March.

 

Commenting on the latest jobs survey results, Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG, said:

“There has been a resurgence of recruitment into Britain’s boardrooms, with businesses poaching top talent to drive their companies forward. This surge of executive hires is a strong indication of underlying business sentiment and their ambitions for the future. However, while the highest paid are benefiting from the recovery, demand for permanent staff remains more muted in the manufacturing sector. This section of the market is often the first to stall in tough economic conditions and the last to recover, emphasising the divergent fortunes facing job seekers in today’s market.”

“The declining pool of available labour continues to force pay up. With two in five recruiters in the UK reporting falling candidate availability, spiralling salary growth remains a concern as businesses bid against each other to secure skilled staff.”

Posted in: