Professional recruitment firms in the UK reported that although there was no change in overall vacancy numbers for permanent roles year-on-year in August 2017, placements increased by 5% and demand for contractors fell 12% during the same period, according to new survey data from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies.

APSCo’s data, which focuses on professional recruitment, also shows notable variations between the trade association’s core sector groups in terms of hiring activity. While permanent vacancies across both finance and engineering, for example, have increased (by 9% and 2% respectively) permanent vacancies within IT slipped by 5%.     

Vacancies for professional contractors decreased by 12% across the board year-on-year, with demand falling across every core sector group. The number of contractors out on assignment fell by 0.5% over the same period. Contract vacancy numbers were down across each of APSCo’s core sector groups. Demand for engineering, IT and finance professionals, for example, decreased by 3%, 12% and 28% respectively.

APSCo adds that this is despite the fact that the number of self-employed workers in the UK grew by a further 88,000 in the three months to July 2017. There are now 4.85 million self-employed professionals working across the UK, amounting to more than 15% of the nation’s entire workforce.

John Nurthen, Executive Director, Global Research, Staffing Industry Analysts, which compiles the report for APSCo, commented, “August is usually a difficult and unpredictable month with holidays and project gaps holding up recruitment decisions, so the 5% increase in permanent placements is encouraging. Nevertheless, staffing firms report finding it more and more difficult to find good candidates. With demand remaining consistent, current employers are responding with counter-offers in increasing numbers in order to retain departing staff.”

Broken down by sector the number of contract professionals on assignment within finance has increased by 17%, while engineering placements are up 21% year-on-year. 

Meanwhile, vacancies for permanent social work professionals increased by 51% year-on-year, but placements within the sector rose by 13% during the same period. This suggests a disparity between the supply and demand of individuals with experience in this area.

APSCo’s figures also reveal that median salaries across all professional sectors dipped by 1.4% in August 2017. This figure is characterised by notable fluctuations in terms of sector, with banking and construction both recording uplifts (of 1% and 4% respectively).

“While, at first glance, no growth in permanent job availability may be disconcerting, it is worth noting that annual August-to-August comparisons have historically been somewhat flat as a result of the holiday period,” Ann Swain, Chief Executive of APSCo, said. “With this in mind, demand for permanent talent is reassuringly stable, and with forecasters predicting that the UK economy is set to surge back to life in the coming months, we cautiously anticipate that vacancy numbers will soon be increasing once again.”        

“Dips in contract vacancy numbers are indicative of the very strength of the flexible labour market - that is the freedom for businesses to seek high-level, specialist expertise as and when needed. The fact that the number of contractors on assignment remains strong is a positive sign. However, if we were to witness a decrease in demand long-term, alongside ongoing falls in the number of contractors on the ground, this would suggest that wider market forces were at work,” Swain said.