Nationally skills shortages bite as permanent placements rise at slowest rate in eight months…

Key points from the May survey:

  • Weaker rise in permanent placements amid EU referendum uncertainty
  • Pay growth softens but remains marked.

Slower growth of staff appointments…

Permanent staff placements continued to rise in May, but the rate of expansion eased to an eight-month low. Temporary/contract staff billings growth also eased, following April’s 13-month high.

…despite robust demand for staff

Vacancies rose at a marked pace in May, with the rate of growth quickening slightly since April. Stronger increases were recorded for both permanent and short-term employees.

Pay growth moderates…

Permanent staff salary growth eased to a 31-month low in May, although remained above the survey’s historical average. Having increased at the strongest rate in almost nine years during April (partly driven by the new National Living Wage), temporary/contract staff pay posted a slower but still marked rise in May.

...as decline in candidate availability eases further

Further reductions in staff availability were signalled in May. However, slower falls were indicated for both permanent and temporary/contract staff, with the latest declines the least marked in over two-and-a-half years.

In the South (excluding London) though permanent placements growth strongest this year so far..

Key points from May survey:

  • South continues to record strong growth in permanent jobs
  • Permanent and temporary wages continue to grow at strong rates

Permanent candidate supply falls at weaker rate

The availability of staff to fill job vacancies fell for the thirty-fifth consecutive month in May. The rate of decline remained steep, but was the least marked among the four monitored English regions.

Permanent salaries

Starting salaries for permanent jobs in the South of England rose at the sharpest rate in 2016 so far during May. Furthermore, the rate of salary inflation outpaced the UK average for the twelfth month running.
With thanks to Markit /REC

Share this page: