Salaries for new jobs have also dropped, and are now 2% lower in real terms than in December 2009, to give a Reed Salary Index of 98.
UK job vacancies have risen 21% since December 2009 and, according to Reed, private sector growth is responsible for this increase across the board.
While job demand has softened in general, some sectors have bucked the trend.
Consumer-facing sectors - perhaps fuelled by the low pound - have risen most, led by retail, leisure and tourism. Job demand has also increased in key business services sectors such as strategy, consultancy, transport and logistics.
James Reed, chairman of Reed, said: "Faced with a triple whammy of pay freezes, price rises and tax increases, more people are job-seeking right now. With 97% of employers ranking mindset ahead of skill set, it is particularly important for candidates to stand out and make sure their CVs demonstrate the winning '3G mindset' that employers want.
"Recruits with the right 3G mindset are seven times more valuable, according to our latest research, but as applicant-per-job numbers rise each month, employers need to do more to identify the best people when they recruit."
