Partner Article

Northern permanent jobs postings on the rise

Permanent job placements in the North have risen for the fifth consecutive month, according to the KPMG Report on Jobs.

Temporary and contract staff placements also increased for the sixth consecutive month during January.

The North experienced the sharpest increase, as recruitment agencies reported increased demand for permanent and temporary staff. Growth was slower in the South.

More candidates were available for permanent vacancies in the North, albeit at a modest growth rate, while on a national scale the availability of permanent staff fell.

The latest data also showed a rise in permanent pay in the North, for the eleventh consecutive month.

Pay rates across contract staff in the North showed only a small rise, while across the UK as a whole, average hourly rates fell fractionally.

Mick Thompson, KPMG’s Newcastle office senior partner, commented: “The hiring figures for January should give employers and employees in the region plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

“Demand for staff nationally is at its highest for almost two years meaning that employees who may have been too nervous to change jobs in recent months, might consider the benefits of a fresh challenge.

“The North is again leading the way nationally, with the fastest growth in permanent staff placements of all UK regions and contract staff billings increasing at the fastest rate in 23 months. The numbers illustrate the continued confidence and appetite for expansion amongst the North’s ambitious corporates, who are showing signs of adjusting to the new economic reality.

“With the availability of permanent workers in the North having increased for the first time in five months, greater numbers of qualified and experienced staff could help to fill the capability gap many employers have wanted to plug for some time.

“Staff also have more room for manoeuvre, as the data indicates starting salaries for permanent roles in the North rose for the eleventh consecutive month. We are by no means at a stage where the candidate is king, but perhaps they are moving closer to the throne.”

REC director of policy and professional services, Tom Hadley, added: “The war for talent has begun. January saw a further rise in starting salaries in the North continuing an eleven-month trend of increases. The rise is caused by continued growth in permanent vacancies. This is good news for workers but also highlights the need to address the current ‘skills disconnect’ which presents a major barrier to growth in key sectors of our economy.

“Skills shortages in whole sectors like engineering and IT and for particular roles like chefs, drivers and sales is spurring competition for qualified staff. Employers are realising that to secure the talent they need they to offer more attractive salaries.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .