The recruitment market is continuing to tighten, according to the REC’s latest Report on Jobs. The September survey showed the sharpest rate of decline in permanent staff placement since the Confederation began publishing the reports in 1997. Permanent placements have now fallen for the last four months.

Billings at temporary and contract staffers grew marginally, with some agencies receiving a boost from the current economic conditions, which are leading some clients to employ more temporary staff.

The number of job vacancies at UK employers fell for the fifth consecutive month in September, while recruitment advertising was down 25% year on year.