The latest JobsOutlook from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) reports a rise in the number of employers saying they plan to take on more staff. The monthly tracking survey shows this month’s largest increase is among bosses saying they intend to take on more permanent workers within the next quarter, which is up four per cent on last month.

REC chief executive Kevin Green said: “Our data predicts jobs growth will return. While the current economic situation is still challenging for many businesses there are also some positive signs. Although the recovery has been gradual, the UK has avoided the very high levels of unemployment seen elsewhere on the continent and employer confidence does seem to be on the rise.”

May’s JobsOutlook survey of employers reports that:

• 64 per cent plan to increase their permanent workforce over the next three months (4 per cent higher than last month) and only 4 per cent expect to reduce headcounts.
• 56 per cent plan to increase their permanent headcount over the next 4-12 months (2 per cent higher than in April’s report) and only 1 per cent predict a reduction.
• 41 per cent plan to increase the use of agency workers in the next three months (2 per cent higher than last month) and just 8 per cent expect to reduce their use of temps.
• 36 per cent plan to increase the use of agency workers in the next 4-12 months, (no change on last month’s data) and only 7 per cent report they plan to reduce their use of agency staff.

JobsOutlook reports the responses of 600 employers questioned about their hiring intentions over the next quarter and the next year. Respondents are drawn from across the public, private and non-profit sector, and from across a range of industries and sizes of organisation.

Credit: rec.uk.com