UK employers look set to continue recruiting staff over the next three months, according to the latest Employment Outlook Survey from recruitment firm Manpower.
The survey of 2,100 UK employers shows that optimism is led by the finance and business services sector and firms in construction. The hotel and retail sectors are notably more cautious about their hiring intentions.
Mark Cahill, managing director at Manpower, said: “The UK employment market has been well known for its resilience and stability and this picture looks set to continue. The strong results from the finance and business sector are good for the UK as they are often indicators of wider business confidence.
“The much-reported troubles on the high street are reflected in more cautious hiring intentions from retailers, as consumers tighten their belts and rein in spending,” he added.
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“This is the first time in recent history we’ve seen such a fall in confidence from the high street, but it is too early to say whether this is a short-term blip or a more longer-term dip.”
Across the UK, eight of the nine industry sectors surveyed by Manpower are planning to take on staff in the next quarter. Agriculture is the only sector anticipating job losses.
