Reed Jobs Index reveals positive news for UK jobs market

Yet another report has confirmed that the UK jobs market is not sinking into darkness, despite fears that 2013 is thought to bring a triple-dip recession.

According to the latest Reed Jobs Index, the UK jobs market has ‘confounded doomsayers’ since 2010, as it has in fact grown by a third in the last three years.

Limited company contractors and freelancers will be encouraged to hear that the jobs market has grown by 3% since last month, and is 12% healthier than this time last year.  Of the sectors surveyed, 91% were stronger than in 2012 and 76% saw month-on-month growth in January alone.

For contractors trading in social care, education and health and medicine, the Reed Jobs Index found that these sectors are currently fairing the strongest, up 68%, 63% and 52% respectively.

James Reed, chairman of Reed, said of the findings, “Throughout the downturn a number of commentators have been predicting a torrid time for the UK jobs market but, five years later, they have all been proved profoundly wrong.

“Today’s reality is a steadily strengthening jobs market, with the Reed Job Index data showing that the demand for new staff has grown robustly over the past 12 months. Jobseekers are also becoming more active, as they grow in confidence to pursue new opportunities.

“Even if the statistics confirm a triple-dip recession in the UK, the growing capacity in the labour market suggests that business confidence is returning and any recession is unlikely to be long-lasting.  Supporting and strengthening a jobs-led recovery should be a key aim of policy makers in 2013.”

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