Key August points
- Permanent placements rise
- Demand for staff increases at fastest rate since April 2015
- Candidate availability declines at quicker pace, pushing pay rates higher
Commentary: Employers are finding it harder to find the people to fill the jobs available. In many areas of the jobs market candidate supply cannot meet demand. Employers are having to offer more money to secure the people with the skills they need. This is good news for individuals, but businesses will be concerned about the sustainability of this trend as businesses can only grow if they have access to the people and skills they need.
UK wide …
Staff appointments continue to rise sharply in August
The number of people placed into permanent job roles continued to rise sharply in August
Staff vacancies rise at quickest rate for 28 months
August showed a further steep increase in staff vacancies. Furthermore, growth of demand for staff reached its highest since April 2015.
Pay growth strengthens…
Growth of permanent starting salaries accelerated for the fourth month running in August. Notably, it was the quickest rate of pay inflation seen since October 2015.
…amid further drop in candidate availability
The availability of candidates to fulfil permanent job roles continued to decline sharply in August.
In the South of England there was a sharp increase in permanent placements in August
Permanent placements rise at sharper rate
The number of people placed into permanent roles in the South of England increased for the thirteenth successive month in August.
Faster drop in permanent candidate supply
There has been a further deterioration in the availability of permanent staff in August and one of the key notable shortages in the SE has been paraplanners.
