But although still solid, growth of temporary staff billings eased to a seven-month low in June. The rate of increase remained below that signalled for permanent appointments.
Higher levels of availability were recorded for both permanent and temporary staff registered with recruitment consultants in June. But the rates of improvement differed, with the former registering only a marginal rise while the latter posted solid growth that was the sharpest in three months.
Higher pay rates for both permanent and temporary staff were signalled by recruitment consultants in June. However, the increases remained below the respective averages for the series since data were first available in October 1997.
Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said: "Demand for permanent staff continues to grow. This is an encouraging sign that the jobs market is stable and, in sectors such as construction and engineering, rapidly growing. However, with the predictions of up to 600,000 job losses in the public sector, it is still too early to tell how much of a knock-on effect this will have on job creation in the private sector.
"Our main concern is how the near million young jobseekers are going to get their first role in a highly competitive jobs market. This problem can only escalate due to the thousands of graduates and school-leavers who will be seeking employment in the coming months. Youth unemployment is one of the most pressing issues we currently face in the UK and needs to be urgently addressed. Our Youth Employment Taskforce has been looking at how Government, business and educationalists can come together to provide practical solutions to the problem and prevent a ‘lost generation’ of workers."
Recruitment rise in June was the slowest in five months
June showed another rise in recruitment, albeit the slowest in five months, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG's report on jobs.
