The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs survey signalled a renewed rise in permanent placements at the end of 2020, as increased market activity and vaccine news led some firms to press on with hiring plans. At the same time, temp billings rose at the sharpest pace for over two years, as companies often opted for short-term staff due to lingering uncertainty around the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and Brexit.
Demand for staff also increased in December, though temporary vacancies rose at a much steeper rate than that seen for permanent workers. At the same time, both permanent pay and temp wages rose for the first time since March, albeit at mild rates. The availability of workers meanwhile expanded at a softer, but still sharp, rate at the end of 2020. Recruiters frequently mentioned that staff supply rose due to redundancies and worries over current job security.