The public sector remains buoyant for HR recruiters despite fears that HR job cuts could be made at Whitehall.

Last week, The Times reported that chief secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, in a strongly worded letter to ministers, called for up to 25% efficiency savings in corporate services and back-office functions including HR in all departments and up to 800 public quangos.

Alison Hughes, director at Higher Talent, told Recruiter: “We are not seeing much more evidence of downsizing within that sector. I would say recruitment is steady in the sector.”

Michael Henry, director at Optimus Consulting, adds: “For the public sector, where it is quite buoyant is HR in contracts rather than permanent.

“With central government, there has been a push to move a lot of their services out to other areas like Birmingham and Nottingham. A lot of restructures have been planned for quite a few years and we are seeing that.

“They are looking at specific skill sets, of change and restructuring to help with the changes that are happening within the public sector. We have seen more people coming from public sector bodies but a lot of these guys have good experience which NHS trusts or local government bodies are keen to have.”