London – The monthly gauge of permanent job placements compiled by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG rose to 50.5 in August, up from a flat 50.0 in July. The increase is the first since September 2022, according to a survey released on Monday.
The same data showed temporary staffing billings accelerating at the second‑fastest pace in more than three years. While the number of vacancies continued to decline, the rate of contraction was the second‑weakest in nearly two years, indicating a modest easing in the broader jobs market.
Candidate availability improved, rising at the fastest pace in three months, a trend attributed in part to recent redundancies. Starting salaries for permanent roles also increased, posting the strongest growth since January.
The findings suggest a tentative rebound in permanent hiring after a prolonged period of stagnation, although the overall labour market remains tight as vacancies keep falling.
