UK employers are cautiously optimistic about hiring in the next 12 months, according to a survey from online jobs site CareerBuilder.co.uk.

The improving global economy has meant that 39% of UK employers plan to hire full-time workers in the next 12 months, while 47% plan to add part-time or contract or temporary workers.

Farhan Yasin, president of CareerBuilder EMEA, told Recruiter: “Employers are showing cautious optimism, particularly with temporary hiring, as some don’t yet want to commit to [the costs associated with] permanent staff.

“However, businesses that have contracted during the downturn will need more people to produce more growth, so these part-time positions will gradually turn into full-time roles.”

The area seeing the most growth in hiring is for sales employees (46%), with 22% of employers looking to recruit customer service, IT and admin positions in the next 12 months.

With unemployment figures at 2.5m, 62% of UK business leaders believe there is a national skills shortage, with 28% of companies unable to find qualified candidates for their vacant jobs.

Yasin told Recruiter: “Employers are looking to hire but they’re not finding the right match.” Businesses are taking measures to improve and retain top performers through investing more in training, flexible work arrangements and new recruitment strategies.”

“Retention is very important. It’s vital to keep hold of your top performing people as the upturn comes so they decide to remain with you rather than find other opportunities.”

Yasin is also seeing companies returning to employees they have had to let go, especially in the banking and finance sector: “Organisations are contacting staff, who had all the right qualifications, to bring them back to the company. I’m hearing this happening a lot more this year.”