Openings for newly qualified accountants increased by 28% between Q1 and Q2, according to research by financial services recruiter Joslin Rowe.

Simon Humphreys, manager of Joslin Rowe’s newly qualified finance desk, says: “Most industry commentators play close attention to job volume trends, but passive jobseeker figures are just as important. In the boom years, 96% of newly qualifieds registering at Joslin Rowe were working already.

“Confidence was so high that even perfectly happy employees were keeping an eye out for bigger and better opportunities. Fast forward to Q1 of 2009 and just 20% of applicants were securely employed. The remainder  were looking for a new job because they had either been made redundant or were at risk.”