Rise in construction temp vacancies signal ‘confidence returning’
Construction and engineering saw the greatest demand for workers in July as the rest of the labour market in the British economy cooled.
The latest KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs survey, compiled by S&P Global, showed that across ten monitored job sectors, only engineering registered higher demand for permanent staff during July.
The rest posted a rapid fall in vacancies, although construction had the softest decline.
For short-term vacancies, only construction and blue collar jobs sectors posted increases in demand. Retail and Executive/Professional recorded the most pronounced rates of contraction.
Kate Shoesmith, REC deputy chief executive, said: “Fluctuations in permanent and temporary job placements signal a labour market that remains resilient but uneven.
“Construction, a key economic bellwether, has seen a rise in temp vacancies, an early sign of confidence returning.
“Demand for blue-collar temp roles and permanent engineering jobs also remains steady, offering another glimmer of optimism.”
Across the UK economy, starting salary inflation slipped to its lowest level in nearly four and a half years, while permanent placements and temp billings continued to decline.
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“The labour market cooled in July as chief execs held back from increasing their recruitment budgets,” the report explained.
“Economic uncertainty, the complexities of AI adoption and global headwinds are all weighing on business planning”.
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