Recruiters mentioned that candidate shortages continued to limit hiring activity, but slower decision-making at clients amid greater economic uncertainty also dampened growth. At the same time, overall demand for workers increased at the slowest rate since March 2021.

The availability of staff continued to deteriorate rapidly, with the rate of decline the quickest for three months. The difficulty in attracting and securing candidates led to further marked increases in starting pay, though rates of salary and wage inflation softened slightly since May.