More than four out of 10 (42%) of recruiters have made redundancies and 39% currently operate a headcount freeze, according to the 2009 Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) Annual Salary & Benefits survey. The survey, produced in association with accountants Saffery Champness, also found that the average basic salary for the UK recruitment industry currently stands at £27,420 and the average total salary of recruiters, including bonus/commission, is currently £38,218. Roger Tweedy, the REC’s director of research, said: “The results of the survey shouldn’t come as a surprise as the recruitment industry, like so many other economic sectors, has borne the brunt of the recession. However, our other current research has given clear indications that confidence is gathering momentum among employers indicating possible improvements within the industry in the last quarter of this year. So hopefully, this will continue to build and will be reflected in next year’s survey.”