The nation's employers are planning to bolster the jobs market in the months ahead by taking on more workers, a new report has indicated.

Respondents to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC's) JobsOutlook survey show that the overall outlook for the jobs market is a positive one, as 66 per cent of firms are planning to increase the number of permanent workers they have over the next quarter.

In addition, 63 per cent expect to boost permanent hires over the next three to 12 months, while 80 per cent plan to increase or maintain their use of agency worker numbers in the next three months.

Furthermore, 89 per cent of UK companies will increase or maintain their use of agency workers over the next three to 12 months.

The REC's director of research, Roger Tweedy, said that although employers took on more staff during the first quarter of this year, confidence is "fragile".

"Demand for staff is higher in certain sectors and bosses tell us that, despite the current rate of unemployment they still predict they will find it hard to fill the vacancies," he added.

24/05/2012 15:36