The UK job market is improving with more permanent and temporary jobs available and permanent salaries increasing, according to research from KPMG.
The Report on Jobs produced with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) shows recruitment consultants reporting a rise in permanent staff placements for the fourth month running in January. Temporary staff billings increased for the sixth month in succession.
Job vacancies continued to increase at the start of 2013, with the rate of growth in permanent vacancies reaching a 21-month high. Average starting salaries for people placed in permanent jobs were also up in January.
Private sector demand for permanent employees rose at a strong rate in January, with growth picking up to a ten-month high, although demand fell in the public sector.
Bernard Brown, partner and head of business services at KPMG, said: 'Amid the doom and gloom caused by predictions of slow growth, the hiring figures for January should give employers and employees plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Demand for staff is at its highest peak for almost two years meaning that employees who may have been too nervous to change jobs in recent months, might consider the benefits of a fresh challenge.'
A separate survey by professional umbrella employment provider, Giant group is predicting an increase in opportunities for accountancy and finance contractors over the next year.
Nearly half (41%) of those polled expect an increase in job opportunities in the public sector arena, followed by industry and commerce (32%). Management consultancies and accountancy firms were third (7%) with retail and commercial banking and investment banking and asset management joint fourth (6%).
Analysis shows that only 19% of those surveyed were members of the leading accountancy professional bodies. Matthew Brown, managing director of Giant, said: 'It would appear from these lower numbers of qualified accountants that the need for senior level professionals is dropping slightly. This is further supported by the hourly rates recorded, with the vast majority of contractors appearing at the lower end of the pay spectrum.'
