Scots’ jobs recruitment came off boil in December

The steam has come out of the Scottish employment market, with the number of permanent placements in Scotland in December rising at the slowest pace since March.

In addition, the billings received from the employment of temps last month fell for the first time since November 2016, according to today’s latest Report on Jobs by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

REC chief executive Kevin Green said: “The latest figures from Scotland show that for the first time in over a year recruiters have placed fewer people into temporary roles than during the previous month.”

The fall in temp billings was in “distinct contrast” with a sharp expansion at the UK level, the report, compiled by IHS Markit, added.

Commenting on the Scottish backdrop, Green said: “The problem is there are not enough people to fill the roles out there and if businesses are not able to find skills they need the consequences could be lower productivity and slow growth.”