Scotland outpaces UK in jobs growth, as data points to ‘improving market’

By PERRY GOURLEY
Published on 08/09/2012 00:00

SCOTLAND is seeing the highest month-on-month growth in job opportunities in the UK, according to the latest survey from recruitment heavyweight Reed.

The firm’s monthly “Job Index” report found that Scotland had seen a 9 per cent increase in jobs in August.

Across the UK, job postings increased for the second month in a row, bucking the typically flat summer period.

Over half of employment sectors are now posting significantly more jobs than the month before with the construction and property and transport and logistics sectors faring particularly well.

Martin Warnes, managing director at Reed.co.uk, described the figures as “highly encouraging”.

“Our data has been pointing towards an improving jobs market for many months now. These latest figures add further weight to the argument that jobs growth has actually been embedded for some time,” said Warnes.

“Particularly noteworthy has been the increase in opportunities in the construction and property sector. This important area of the UK economy has been particularly hard hit by the recession so the figures are to be especially welcomed.”

Warnes said the coming three months will provide a good indication as to the overall prospects for the economy.

“The pre-Christmas period is typically one of the most fruitful of the year for job hunters as businesses prepare for the New Year, and we are hopeful that the trend of recent jobs growth can in turn spur an upturn in the wider UK economy.”