REC: Jobs market is resilient

Date: 7th September 2011

Small business owners around the UK could be among those encouraged by the recent comments of one expert regarding the strength of the UK's jobs market.

The latest Report on Jobs by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has shown that demand for both permanent and temporary workers continued to rise in August, while contractors also saw their pay rates rise to a three-month high.

Kevin Green, the organisation's chief executive, said the figures suggest the jobs market is now more robust.

Mr Green also claimed that the hard work recruitment firms have put in over the last few months means this trend will not reverse once the agency workers' regulations come into effect next month.

"The latest Report on Jobs ... highlights the robustness of the UK jobs market. In the face of a slowing economy, falling consumer confidence and high inflation, private sector employers continue to hire staff," he explained.

"We are confident that this trend is set to continue and that the agency workers' regulations (AWR) will not undermine the UK's flexible labour market given that our members and their clients seem well prepared for the impact of the AWR next month."

Posted by Thomas Fletcher