Jobs for those working in equities have increased by 41% in the last quarter, according to the latest eFinancialCareers UK Quarterly Barometer.

There was also strong demand for private equity/venture capital professionals – up nearly 40% over the previous quarter.

Increases were also recorded for roles in debt/fixed income (up 30%), consultancy (up 29%) and compliance (up 26%).

James Bennett, managing director EMEA and APAC at eFinancialCareers.com, says: “The November-December signals were already looking positive as the seasonal slowdown normally experienced in the sector was significantly less pronounced this year; and then in January we saw a strong rise.

“This has been driven by a combination of those firms that are rapidly re-building teams as revenue levels grow, and those that are still re-structuring. It is good to see that professional services firms are also now stepping up their hiring activity, suggesting that the City’s recovery is touching the wider professional community.”