Recruitment intentions across the UK have strengthened in the second quarter when compared to the first quarter, according to the latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Totaljobs.

The report found that 60% of UK businesses attempted to recruit new hires in the previous three months, an increase from 53% in Q1.

At the same time, the report cautioned that recruitment difficulties cannot be ignored. The percentage of firms reporting difficulties hiring the right staff fell from 73% to 64%, although the figure remains high by historic standards and stands at ‘critical’ levels in a number of sectors such as construction (77%) and hotels and catering (74%).

Approximately a third, or 30%, of employers expect to increase their workforce in the next three months, showing intentions to hire remain strong.

Claire Walker, Co-Executive director at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), commented, “In the face of sluggish growth and political uncertainty, the jobs market has been a positive for the UK economy. The quarter saw a pick-up in attempts to recruit and an easing of recruitment difficulties, although levels are high by historic standards and remain a cause for concern.”

“Demand for seasonal workers, many of whom have traditionally come from the European Union, highlights the importance of the new government quickly setting out a sensible post-Brexit immigration policy, that reflects the needs of different sectors and regions in the UK.”

Patrick Wehrmann, CEO of Totaljobs, commented, “The labour market continues to weather economic uncertainty, with the vast majority of businesses showing a continued commitment to maintaining or increasing staff headcount. In fact, just 7% of employers expect their workforce to decrease as we head into Q3.”