REC: Temp market improving

Although the general jobs market is not looking too rosy, the temporary workers sector is picking up, it has been claimed.

Tom Hadley, director of external relations at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said the economic downturn has led many HR staff to change their recruitment policies and turn to temps.

He said: "It mirrors what we’ve found in other recessions, that employers are using temporary workers because a lot of them are reluctant to commit to full-time recruitment."

With so much uncertainty in the business world, employing such staff is a way of getting highly-skilled employees, but with a degree of flexibility that makes it a more viable option in the current climate, Mr Hadley added.

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The expert also claimed it is vital the government does not do anything that could "destabilise" this market with regard to the Agency Workers Directive.

His comments come as the REC and KPMG report on jobs, 60 per cent of those questioned noted a stable or increased demand for temporary staff last month.