KPMG report | UK job market sees sharpest rise in candidates since pandemic

Hiring activity in the UK fell again in June as businesses pulled back on recruitment amid ongoing economic uncertainty, according to the latest KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs.

The monthly survey, based on feedback from around 400 recruitment agencies, showed that permanent job placements dropped at their fastest rate in nearly two years. Temporary staff billings also fell at the quickest pace since February. Employers cited concerns about rising costs and a lack of confidence in the wider economic outlook.

Candidate availability rises sharply but vacancies decline & pay growth slows

Despite the slowdown in hiring, recruiters reported the fastest increase in candidate availability since November 2020. This was largely driven by redundancies and fewer opportunities, which meant more people were actively looking for work.

Read more from us

'Deeply concerning' | Immigration compliance 'outsourced to HR' amid visa system flaws, lawyer warns

The number of people available for both permanent and temporary roles rose significantly, with the supply of permanent candidates growing slightly faster.