Some movement at last in the labour market

The latest survey from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) shows positive signs for the UK’s labour market ahead of 2010. December’s Jobs Outlook reported that 22% of employers now say business is beginning to improve, compared to just 1% in September.

Commenting on the survey, REC’s Director of Research Roger Tweedy said:
"At last there is evidence that life is returning to the UK’s labour market. After several months of uncertainty it seems that firms are becoming more confident about their future hiring intentions. Although if previous recessions are anything to go by we would expect unemployment to continue to rise even after the economy returns to growth, this report shows positive signs that unemployment will not be as high as people predicted."

Jobs Outlook is based on a monthly sample survey of 600 employers undertaken by an independent market research company on behalf of the REC

Roger Tweedy concluded: "Whilst the labour market is still very fragile, the feedback from recruiters on the frontline suggests that it is becoming easier to place jobseekers into work. As the labour market becomes more fluid once more this in turn will create more vacancies".

APA agrees that greater fluidity in the labour market will help lubricate employment opportunities. It believes that the first three months of 2010 could be the perfect time to go ‘fishing’ if you are looking to change jobs. APA will release its own figures on PA employment trends in January 2010.

Gareth, APA.