The latest findings of the monthly ‘JobsOutlook’ survey of 600 employers reveals an increasing number of businesses think that economic conditions are worsening, with the net balance falling from -3 in August to -7 in September and -9 in this latest report. 

The net balance of employers planning recruit more temporary agency workers within the next three months has also fallen to -9 across all sectors, although demand for temporary workers within low-skilled occupations such as drivers and hospitality remains positive.

This month’s survey also shows:

• Almost seven in 10 employers (69%) state that they are using agency workers to cover leave or absences, making it the number one reason to hire agency workers
• Two in five (42%) employers said they had no spare workforce capacity
• In the health & social care sector, employers feared a shortage of temporary and permanent candidates

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