Firms ‘still looking to recruit staff’

FIRMS are becoming more cautious about hiring staff, although the jobs outlook continues to keep its head above water, according to two new studies.

Recruitment firm Manpower said a survey of 2,100 employers showed they were demonstrating a “remarkable resilience” given the state of the economy. Managing director Mark Cahill said: “When you’re going head to head with a return to recession at home and a burgeoning eurozone crisis, by rights the jobs market should be in free fall, but that’s not what we’re seeing. Firms are still looking to hire, albeit at a weaker pace than before.”

A separate report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG showed a modest rise in permanent staff jobs in May.