(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 9 feb - UK recruiters signalled a softer drop in permanent staff appointments, slowing to the softest rate in a year and a half, and a slight increase in temp billings, the first increase in three months, while candidate availability increased at softest rate in a year, according to the latest report released by the Recruitment and Employment confederation.

The report is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of around 400 UK recruitment and employment consultancies.

Competition for skills that were often in short supply reportedly added further upwards pressure on rates of starting pay in January. Notably, starting salaries increased at a solid pace that was the quickest for nearly a year-and-a-half, while temp wage inflation hit the joint-highest since May 2024.

Overall vacancies across the UK continued to decrease at the start of the year. The rate of reduction remained sharp, despite easing to the second-slowest seen over the past seven months. Demand for permanent staff contracted at a slightly softer pace than in December, but one that remained quicker than for temporary workers.

"There have been increasing signs from businesses as we enter 2026 that uncertainty on hiring plans is giving way to action. That does not mean a general hiring upswing, but the 'wait-and-see' period seems to be ending. Rising temp billings and a levelling off in the permanent market speak to these clearer plans. REC members across the country report a change in tone since the start of the year," said REC CEO Neil Carberry.

'The decisions firms are now making involve lots of trade-offs, such as whether to create jobs in the UK or elsewhere, or which jobs need the human touch as opposed to an automated solution. A growing, inclusive economy requires high levels of employment - a focus on encouraging firms to create jobs rather than discouraging that investment is more important than ever. So far, the Government has struggled to convince businesses it wants them to hire. That has to change in the decisions that are made this year if we are to avoid a.

continued rise in unemployment.'

(RADIOCOR) 09-02-26 11:29:19 (0246) 5 NNNN