Encouraging figures from REC shows growth in private sector confidence.Ninety-four per cent of employers are expecting to keep current staffing levels with one in four planning increases.

February 2011 Recruitment Consultant

This is according to the REC’s latest JobsOutlook which also shows 86 per cent of employers surveyed planning to either keep the same level or increase their use of agency staff.

Over the longer term, 35 per cent plan to increase their temporary workforce compared to 22 per cent a year ago.

Roger Tweedy, pictured, the REC’s director of research, said: “It is a very positive sign that private sector employers are continuing to look to temporary staff to offer them flexibility while there is still concern over the UK economy. This trend also ties in with the latest findings from our Report on Jobs which showed demand for staff at its highest level since June last year.

“Feedback from public sector employers suggests that they are reconfiguring their resourcing in the readiness for growth.”

He added: “However, the full force of cuts in public sector spending is still to be felt. We are confident that in the long-term, demand in the economy will lead to private sector businesses employing more people and them being able to largely make up for the public sector fall-out.”

JobsOutlook is based on a monthly survey of employers with results based on a sample of 600 on a three month rolling basis.

February 2011 Recruitment Consultant