Increase in demand for finance workers and accountants

The latest IHS Markit/REC Report on jobs has shown that demand for permanent finance workers and accountants increased in December. 

The report also showed that the number of permanent staff placements increased at the fastest rate since August at the end of last year, with agencies reporting strong demand for staff in these sectors.

Rise

Data also showed that there was a further rise in demand for temporary staff across nine of the categories monitored in the report, with accounting/financial earning third place in the rankings.

The report also revealed the regions that saw the steepest increase in demand for permanent and temporary workers last month. While London had the lowest rate of growth for permanent placements, the city led the way for demand for temporary workers and saw the highest rise in temporary billings out of the five UK regions that were monitored.

In terms of sectors, the private sector saw the highest increase in vacancies for permanent workers, while the same sector also saw a rise in demand for temporary staff. The public sector, however, saw a more modest rate of growth in permanent and temporary vacancies last month.

Dropped

The report also showed that the availability of candidates to fill permanent roles dropped at the fastest rate in two years last December. With fewer candidates available and demand increasing, employers are pushing up salaries, with the data showing a rise in permanent starting salaries last month, while pay for temporary staff also increased over the same period.