Employer confidence at record high

The latest issue of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s JobsOutlook, the monthly survey of employers’ hiring intentions, shows employer confidence grew throughout the first quarter of 2012 to reach its highest level since the survey began in March 2009. Employers intend to hire more staff in both the short and long term, with a particular emphasis on taking on more permanent workers. However, the increase in confidence was smaller from February to March than the previous month.

JobsOutlook’s survey of employers reports that:

• 72 percent said they planned to increase the number of permanent employees over the next 3 months
• 69 percent expect to increase permanent hires over the next year
• 34 percent plan to increase agency worker numbers in the next quarter (with 44 percent saying they plan to keep numbers the same)
• 29 percent say they will increase agency workers over the next 12 months (with 55 percent saying they will maintain their current numbers)

The report also revealed employers continue to be pleased with the service they receive from recruitment agencies – with 91 percent rating themselves as satisfied.

Commenting on the latest figures, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s Director of Research, Roger Tweedy, said:

“The overall figures from quarter one are really positive. Looking forward, employers tell us they plan to make more job offers over both the short and medium term – particularly for permanent roles.

“Our measure of employer confidence has reached a record high point. But the growth in confidence was less than last month so it will be important to track whether increasing employer confidence is a continuing trend or whether it’s peaking.”