Employers are hesitant to hire new staff based on a recent report by Wales Online. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) stated that employers are remaining cautious about the economic outlook. The report highlighted a decline in the number of jobseekers being placed in work by recruiters, with the number of candidates placed in permanent jobs dropping for two consecutive years.
According to the survey conducted by hundreds of recruitment agencies, vacancies for permanent jobs decreased significantly in sectors like retail but saw an increase in nursing and medical care positions. The availability of staff rose last month due to more redundancies and reduced demand for workers. Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of REC, mentioned that the job market is currently in a waiting phase, with recruiters indicating that client projects are ready but confidence levels are not high enough to proceed.
While the market for permanent jobs declined in September, the temporary hiring market showed more resilience and growth in certain areas. Private sector vacancies remained stagnant, indicating that many businesses are maintaining their current positions. Additionally, pay has started to moderate and is now below its long-term trend.
Overall, the report emphasised the cautious approach taken by employers in hiring new staff, with uncertainties surrounding the economic situation influencing recruitment decisions.