Badenoch & Clark is predicting the busiest two weeks of the year for the recruitment industry.

The recruitment agency, which specialises in accounting, finance, legal and public sector professional services recruitment, has seen a strong seasonal upturn which has incremented year on year since 2002 by an average of 12%.

Managing director Neil Wilson says: "We've always seen a spike in activity throughout January as people resolve to build a better life in the New Year. But it seems this is compounded by the poor weather and in particular the lack of daylight at this time of year, which contributes to a poor sense of wellbeing. It seems depression is the motivating factor for many a job search: 'I'm unhappy = perhaps a new job might make me happy' seems to be the train of thought."

The company says there are also economic factors which affect the rush to the job market. The financial services industry is particularly impacted by the 'new year new job' phenomenon, not because bankers are any more depressed than any other workers, but because of the impact of bonus time. It is during the next two weeks that bankers learn the size of their bonuses.