Employers report optimism about hiring

Temporary and permanent vacancies will increase in the next few months, employers predict.

A poll from the Industry Research Unit of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) revealed optimism among employers for workforce growth.

Its study, conducted in the fourth quarter, showed continued strong performance and increased employer optimism.

REC suggested this was an important measure of the actual state of recruitment because there had recently been some uncertainty and negative assessment.

Director of Research Roger Tweedy said: 'The feedback from agencies on our Steering Group confirms that this pattern has continued into 2008 with January results ahead of forecast.'

The optimism of employers for 2008 was much higher than at the same time last year, REC also stated, with 35% of employers predicting that demand for agency workers will increase 'slightly or greatly'.

However, concerns remain over how the proposed new Temporary and Agency Workers Bill could affect business, according to REC's Director of External Relations Tom Hadley.

Recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that employment is currently at an all-time high.