Permanent and temporary appointments increased, according to September’s REC and KPMG’s latest report on jobs.

Both permanent placements and temporary/contract staff billings rose for the second month in a row in September and at slightly sharper rates than in August.

The month’s drop in job vacancies was the weakest in the current 16-month period of decline. Permanent staffing demand fell modestly, while demand for temporary/contract staff rose slightly for the first time in 15 months.     

Recruiters reported that permanent staff pay fell at the slowest pace in the current 12-month decline, while the latest drop in temporary/contract staff pay rates was the smallest in just under a year.

The report also indicated further improvements in both permanent and temporary/contract staff availability during September. Although still robust, the rates of growth continued to ease from rapid levels seen around the turn of the year, suggesting that the most intense phase of headcount reduction has passed.