Nearly half (49%) of UK employers have increased their staff in the last three months, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.co.uk.

The study found that this momentum is expected to continue, with 26% of employers indicating they plan to add a larger number of employees in the second half of 2007 compared to the first. Only one-in-ten employers said they will not be adding to headcount for the rest of this year.

It found that more than a third of employers said they hired temporary staff members in the first half of 2007. Employers plan to continue to add temporary staff through the end of the year, with 25% planning to do it in Q3, and 22% in Q4. Looking to the future, 45% of employers said they were very likely or somewhat likely to move temporary employees into permanent positions.

Dave Smith (pictured), managing director of CareerBuilder.co.uk, says: “Job growth is predicted to continue at a cautiously stable pace through the end of 2007.

“UK employers will continue to struggle with a shrinking skilled labour force as Baby Boomers move closer to retirement and the smaller generations of replacement workers falls under quota. The UK workforce can also expect to see employers become more creative in their recruitment and retention efforts, evident in higher salaries, increased training and more flexible work cultures.” 

It found that 15% of employees say they plan to leave their current job in the next six months, 23% will be leaving within one year and 39% will be gone by the middle of 2009.

The research found that female workers, more so than men, may be more open to switching careers. It found that 45% of women say they have already changed careers one or two times, compared to only 33% of men.