Brighter outlook for jobs, says report

BETTER news on the employment front has come from a new jobs survey which shows the Midlands has seen a sharper rise in placements than all other monitored regions.

The Report on Jobs: Midlands surveys recruitment and employment consultants in the region. It is designed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to labour market trends and data which is directly comparable with the national UK Report on Jobs. 

It reveals permanent placements at companies in the Midlands increased sharply in February, following no change in the previous month. The rise was faster than that seen across the UK economy as a whole.

Permanent salaries in the Midlands also rose further during February, extending the current sequence of inflation to 20 months. This contrasted with a fall across the UK as a whole. However, the rise in salaries in the Midlands was much weaker than that registered in January.

Commenting on the report, Steve Hollis, chairman of accountancy firm KPMG in the Midlands, said: “This data highlights a positive emerging trend in the Midlands and we must use this to establish greater confidence in the employment market place.

“Automotive is leading the way and this has demonstrated how the Midlands’ manufacturing base is more than capable to develop and produce world class products.

“The one word of caution that could dampen growth is the skills shortage, which all concerned stakeholders must continue to address.”