​May's UK Report on Jobs makes interesting reading

There's nothing revelatory in the data, there's still a candidate shortage, starting salaries remain on the rise and demand for staff is still growing. Placements however have slipped to a 13-month low. This is largely driven by recruiters reporting they struggle to find people for jobs and candidate numbers fall.

Skills in short supply range widely. From Accountants to Life Scientists, and Logistics Managers to Nurses, it seems fair to assume that if you are seeking a role, there's a choice available.

However, we're not seeing a relaxation of role criteria. With workloads stretched, there seems to be little appetite for taking on people who 'aren't quite able to fulfill the role', and managers reallocating work or delaying projects, rather than employ someone who requires considerable time input.

According to ONS data, unemployment levels are below pre-Covid levels, salary rises are on average just over 5%, however, this doesn't fully compensate for the rising inflation, which is reported could reach 10% by the end of the year. Some candidates are feeling the pinch, and looking for a new role with a higher salary is now a valid reason for a job search.

https://www.rec.uk.com/our-view/news/press-releases/report-jobs-tight-labour-market-conditions-lead-further-rapid-increases-starting-pay

If you'd like a copy of the full report, let us know.