More than 40% of businesses intend to increase the amount they spend on commercial recruitment websites over the next six months, according to the Cranfield School of Management’s Recruitment Confidence Index.

It found that the proportion of companies using commercial job sites for recruitment is remaining stable at around 25%. The number of businesses using their own corporate websites for recruitment also remains static at 32%.

Businesses using commercial or corporate sites have reported a rise in the use of online recruitment boards over the past year, with 42% increasing their use of jobs boards, and 49% increasing their use of their corporate website.

It found that 44% of businesses expect to increase their use of commercial jobs boards over the next year, and 62% expect to increase their use of their corporate website.

The research also shows that the use of online recruitment is impacting the use of other recruitment methods, 32% say they spent less money on other recruitment methods last year because they used the internet, and 35% expect to spend less on other methods in the coming year.