Increase in job hunters

RECRUITERS have seen the steepest rise in candidates available for hire for nearly five years amid rising redundancies and fewer job opportunities, according to a report.

- HOLLY WILLIAMS

Growth in starting salaries also eased back to the slowest pace for four-and-a-half-years, it found.

The monthly KPMG and REC report on jobs showed a slight improvement in permanent job recruitment activity, which fell at the slowest rate since May, but remained in decline.

The influential report showed a reading of 44.2 for permanent placements in the UK last month, up from 40 in July.

However, any figure below 50 represents decline in the job market, with levels over 50 showing growth.

The data therefore indicated another month of contraction.

The downturn in temporary billings also eased, with a reading of 46.8 in August up from 44.6 in July, though also still firmly in contraction.