The percentage of UK businesses recruiting at similar levels to before the recession rose to 47% in Q4 from 37% in Q3, according to research from professional staffing firm Barclay Meade.

The Barclay Meade Tracking UK Recruitment report also shows the number of firms implementing a recruitment freeze has fallen from 30% in Q3 to 24% in Q4 2010.

Of those employers not looking to recruit, 69% had no need to recruit rather blaming poor business performance or financial limitations.

Barclay Meade managing director Nigel Lynn says: “The latest ‘Tracking UK Recruitment’ report indicates that employers may be moving on from the stagnation experienced in the third quarter of 2010 in to a period of re-balancing and gradual growth. The public sector cuts and the VAT hike continued to have a negative impact on recruitment strategies over the last three months, but the degree to which this is felt has lessened slightly, suggesting a returning level of confidence among employers.

“However, the fragility of the UK economy is highlighted by the surprise 0.5% contraction in GDP and, while economists remain unsure of whether we are heading to a recovery or into a double-dip recession, employers will also remain uncertain.”