The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has called on the Chancellor to provide support for regional economic growth and SMEs ahead of today’s Autumn Statement.

According to a poll of 200 employers included in the REC’s JobsOutlook survey, 25% of employers believe that new funds to support regional economic growth should be at the top of the list in today’s Autumn Statement. The second-highest response, cited by 18% of employers, was for more incentives to help start-ups and SMEs employ new workers.

The REC survey showed that 27% of respondents felt that domestic economic conditions are improving, up 2% from last month’s report – but below the 48% reported in June.

“Business confidence is still way below levels seen before the referendum,” Kevin Green, REC Chief Executive, said. “Employers are calling for interventions to drive forward projects such as the Northern Powerhouse and to bolster the economy. Now is the time for a clear message from government that UK businesses can expect support to ensure they can weather the continued uncertainty of the EU negotiations.”

“The jobs market has performed well so far since the referendum, and the data around hiring intentions is encouraging,” Green said. “However, employers are not a homogeneous group and the government needs to meet a variety of needs to ensure the continued health of the jobs market.”

“The government needs to outline how it will address skills shortages in its industrial strategy and ensure that the supply of people to fill vacancies meets the demand from business,” Green said. “We will continue to need workers from overseas in a range of sectors, from engineering to healthcare, and must ensure immigration policies reflect immediate labour market needs.”

The Autumn Statement is due to be released today, 23 November at 1230 (GMT).