Signs of an uptick in recruitment this year have been revealed, new research reveals, but businesses remained cautious over the economic outlook.

According to the latest JobsOutlook from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and Whitestone Insight, a sustained bounce-back in hiring this year remained possible. However, employers still had significant concerns about the strength of the economy.

The JobsOutlook showed that the short-term permanent hiring outlook, for the next three months, had improved by three points (to net +9) in the three months to April. The medium-term hiring outlook, for the next four to 12 months, improved by four percentage points in the three months to April (+9).

Labour market trends

Budget costs lead to lower 2025 pay awards

Stabilising labour market offers glimmers of hope

ONS finds slower wage growth but rising unemployment

The balance of sentiment towards short-term use of temporary workers was restored to positivity this quarter – up three percentage points to net +3, with an uptick to net +5 in the last month (April 2025).

The five-point rise in hiring intentions for medium-term recruitment of temps experienced across the quarter (+8) was largely driven by a spike in optimism in April (to net +14).

According to the REC, this was grounds for optimism for immediate recruitment, such as summer seasonal hiring this year, as well as encouraging news for school leavers and graduates looking to enter the workforce after their exam...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxPR0tzdzN6aEhTSGlLRDFCbk5n...