Bristol-based recruiters believe theirs will be one of the fastest cities to recover economically.

Sonya Moseley, commercial supervisor at industrial and commercial recruiter Mainline Employment, told Recruiter: “We have had a definite increase in business. Since the Budget [published on 22 April] there has been a lot more confidence and we have more temps out.”

Karen Power, director of operations of commercial recruiter Select, said she believed Bristol would be one of the first cities in the South West to recover: “It’s been difficult, but we’re seeing seeds of growth. In hospitality the first few months of the year were dead, but things are picking up.”

Sophie Simmonds, senior permanent consultant at office support recruiter Pertemps, told Recruiter: “Although Bristol’s economy leans heavily on the financial services industry, compared to six months ago the permanent recruitment market is showing some signs of improvement.”

However, the unemployment rates for the city, which tend to lag behind labour market upturns, caught up with the rest of England and Wales for the first time in May. According to the Office of National Statistics, Bristol had a claimant rate of 4.1% last month.

Responding to the statistics Moseley said: “I’m amazed they’re still creeping up as we are getting so many calls at the moment. We’ve been the busiest for months in the last couple of weeks.”