Jobs growth slows across the North

THE growth of permanent jobs in the North of England has slowed to a “marginal” pace, according to a new survey by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG.

The survey showed that growth rates in the amount of people placed into permanent jobs grew only slightly in March, and that growth was much weaker than in the Midlands or the South.

Average starting salaries also climbed slightly, having fallen back in February for the second time in eight months.

Meanwhile, recruitment consultants also reported a growth in the availability of both temporary and permanent staff in March, with a spike in the availability of staff for short-term periods.

Jonathan Hurst, northern chairman at KPMG, said:  “The North’s broad based economy sees the regional job market hold its own in the context of stuttering macroeconomic data; no more, no less.”