UK Jobs – Recruitment falls for second month in a row

Figures released earlier this month show that the number of people in permanent jobs has fallen for the second consecutive month in a row – suggesting that companies have been putting hiring decisions on hold until after the Olympics.

The report released by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) claimed there was still a “high degree of uncertainty” among employers.

While recruitment consultants reported an increase in the availability of staff across the board, there were reductions in both permanent and short-term staff appointment s in July.

Bernard Brown of KPMG said:

“Only a few weeks ago there was an audible sigh of relief across the UK’s workforce as official employment figures indicated signs of improvement.

He added that the labour market still showed a “high degree of uncertainty” because the current rate employers were recruiting had decreased for the second consecutive month.

REC chief executive Kevin Green said:

“The UK’s labour market deserves a gold medal for its incredible performance in the face of adversity so far this year. In the last few months, it has defied gravity as unemployment has fallen and jobs grew even while the economy slipped back into recession.”