Demand for permanent jobs continues to rise

The number of permanent job vacancies increased for the third month running in April and the number of temporary vacancies jumped for the fifth month in a row, a survey finds.

The Report on Jobs survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and Andersen reveals that overall demand for staff at recruitment consultancies increased at the fastest pace for 12 months.

Despite increased demand for staff, separate research by CIPS finds there is a net decline in private sector employment for the 11th successive month as job losses continue to exceed the recruitment of new staff. However, the overall net fall in employment in April was only very marginal and the smallest since last September.

Average salaries awarded to people placed in permanent jobs rose at the fastest rate for eight months and temporary pay rates increased at the fastest rate since September.

Tim Nicholson, chief executive at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said: "Demand growth for both temporary and permanent staff in nearly every sector fuels confidence that the economic upturn is real and sustainable and not just a blip."

By Ben Willmott