Latest reports suggest the eurozone economy is forecast to shrink this year as its debt crisis continues to bite.  The prediction of a 0.3{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} contraction in 2012 in the economies of the 17 countries that use the euro. European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said “a...

The latest KPMG.REC report on jobs, which tells us that unemployment is continuing to rise despite a small increase in permanent placements, signals an end to the myth that regulation does not stifle growth. Historically the temping industry has worked well to help employers, never more so than at...

Nearly three in four (72{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}) UK HR directors are concerned about losing top performers from their companies over the coming year, and in a bid to retain staff, are offering other incentives – other than financial remuneration – such as remote-working, according to a study by OfficeTeam, a leading...

Almost half of UK companies have experienced an unexpected change in leadership in the last 12 months with some stating a detrimental effect on business. Almost 1 in 5 (19{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}) said that it had caused a loss of or slowed growth due to a lack of leadership or direction....

Exports were up a seasonally adjusted 0.9{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} over the month, following a 1.5{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} increase in February.  German firms had the most success in markets outside the European Union, where they recorded growth of 6.1{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} compared with the year before.  The seasonally-adjusted trade surplus remained flat at 13.7bn euros from...

The United States eQuest Employment Index showed a minimal gain in the month of April moving from 106.26 to 106.42.   The April gain was achieved with a small increase in overall job postings across most tracked industries but led by a large jump in the retail sector.  Energy and...

While official figures show the UK economy contracted in the first quarter of the year, data from the business services sector in the Business Factors Index from Bibby Financial Services shows more positive activity for the period. Increases in new customers, orders and business enquiries contributed to firms enjoying...

Ahead of the Queen’s Speech next week, the Forum of Private Business has urged the Government to ensure the Groceries Code Adjudicator has the necessary power to fine supermarkets who unfairly abuse their suppliers, and to ensure new laws on parental leave don’t unfairly harm small business, particularly with...

The number of new job opportunities available in April showed steady year-on-year growth, in spite of a contracting economy during the first quarter of 2012. The Reed Job Index of new vacancies showed a seven per cent rise compared to April 2011, although the Easter holidays prompted a six...

The latest issue of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s JobsOutlook, the monthly survey of employers’ hiring intentions, shows employer confidence grew throughout the first quarter of 2012 to reach its highest level since the survey began in March 2009. Employers intend to hire more staff in both the short...

A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction. The economy shrank by 0.3{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} in the fourth quarter of 2011.  The UK economy has returned to recession, after shrinking by 0.2{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} in the first three months of 2012. BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders says it “adds to the...

Universities can expect a decline in applications following the fee increase, according to students. Many even claimed their current course is not worth the money. survey of more than 100 students and graduates by graduate recruitment website Milkround revealed more than 80 percent of its respondents believe raising university...

A poll conducted by Monster shows the like-minded nature of workers amid a challenging economic climate; over half of respondents (55{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}) said they are considering switching their career in response to economic troubles, while nearly one third (30{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}) would consider a move if they could find a better career. Conversely...

The deficit to GDP ratio for the bloc as a whole fell to 4.1{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} from 6.2{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} in 2010, Eurostat said. The overall debt to GDP ratio rose to 87.2{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} from 85.3{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}.  Eurozone governments have introduced far-reaching austerity measures designed to cut deficits.  The Republic of Ireland, Greece and Spain...

Recruitment figures for Europe for March showed continued year-on-year growth – albeit at a slightly slower pace than in February. The newest Monster Employment Index Europe found that recruitment rose by eight per cent across the continent, compared to the figures for March 2011. The previous index, carried out...