Decline in jobs slows

The decline in the UK jobs market eased last month, with permanent placements dropping at the slowest rate in a year, according to latest data.

Statistics from the KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Report on Jobs for June showed that permanent positions still fell, but at a slower pace.

This represented the most positive reading in 13 months.

"The UK jobs market shows signs of life," commented the REC's chief executive Kevin Green. "June had the best performance in the placement of permanent staff for a year."

However, Mike Stevens, head of business services for KPMG, claims it is too early to speak of a jobs market recovery, suggesting that firms reducing staff hours could account for some of the improvement.

Recent research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters highlighted that graduate job availability declined by almost 25 per cent since the last recruitment round.