Report on Jobs May 2011

The Report on Jobs published today by the REC and KPMG signaled an easing in growth of staff appointments during May. Permanent placements and temp billings both rose at the weakest rates in seven months.
Although permanent staff salaries continued to rise in May, the rate of inflation eased to a three-month low. Temporary staff pay increased at the weakest rate in the current four-month sequence of growth.
Recruitment consultants signaled a modest improvement in the availability of staff to fill job vacancies during May. However, the rates of growth of both permanent and temporary candidate availability eased since the previous month. 
Kevin Green, the REC's Chief Executive, says:
"The latest data shows a worrying deceleration in the UK jobs market. Although the number of placements has continued to increase, the rate of expansion has hit a seven-month low."
"There have been signs of increasing employer confidence in some sectors but economic growth remains too fragile to spark the real step-change that our jobs market needs. With consumer confidence at low ebb, many individuals who would normally be looking to change."