Asked about plans for their permanent workforce in 2014, the study found 64% of employers plan to hire more permanent staff in the next quarter, which is 9% higher than in January 2013.
The outlook for use of flexible labour via recruitment agencies is also increasingly positive as 47% of employers said they would increase their use of agency staff in the next three months, compared to just 30% in the same period in 2013.
REC chief executive Kevin Green said: "It's been a bumper Christmas for the UK jobs market as employers indicate they intend to grow their workforces in 2014.
"Compared to this time last year businesses are far more willing to commit to taking on staff as they see demand for their products and services returning."
