Recruiter confidence rises slightly

The latest monthly report from the Recruitment andEmployment Confederation (REC) points to a slight increase in optimism amongrecruiters.

The Jobs Outlook survey showed an increase in employerconfidence to a level stronger than at any point in 2011.

Crucially, this is mirrored in employers’ feedback abouthiring intentions, with slightly more employers planning to increase bothpermanent and agency staff numbers over the next quarter, while fewer said theyplan to reduce their headcounts over the next year.

The survey found that:

• 64% of respondents said they plan to increase the number ofpermanent employees over the next three months (up from 63% last month)
• 59% expect to increase permanent hires over the next 4-12month period (up from 61% last month)
• 32% plan to increase agency worker numbers in the nextquarter (up one point from last month) with 19% saying they intend to decreasetheir use of agency workers (down from 22% last month)
• 30% will increase agency workers over the next  4-12 month period (up from 28% last month)with 17%saying they will decrease their use of agency workers (down from 19% lastmonth)

REC director of research Roger Tweedy said: “The data on thebigger picture shows that employer confidence remains relatively static and quitefragile. This is contributing to the stop-start nature of the recovery where astronger month can then be followed by a slightly weaker one.  However, many businesses understand thatrecruiting good people is the most effective way to grow in a recession.”