Key points from REC/KPMG January survey:

- Modest increase in permanent appointments recorded
- Temp billings down slightly
- Candidate availability rises, but at slower rate
- Subdued pay pressures

Latest report on jobs for December is out - at a glance it makes sober reading - but please do remember, this report is based on the whole job market and you have to dig a little deeper into it to see how your part of that market is affected. 

Interestingly, Secretarial/Clerical category comes in 3rd out of 8 for growth in Perms and Temps...

Key points from December survey:

- Modest decline in permanent staff appointments
- Temp billings decrease for first time since July 2009
- Permanent salaries broadly flat; temp pay down slightly
- Growth of candidate availability accelerates

Key points from November survey:

- Permanent placements fall at fastest rate since July 2009
- Growth in temp billings maintained, albeit at marginal pace
- Pay pressures remain muted
- Slower improvement in candidate availability

Key points from October survey:

- Marginal drop in permanent appointments but temp billings continue to rise
- Further increase in job vacancies reported
- Stagnation of permanent staff salaries
- Availability of staff improves at sharper pace"

Key points from September survey:

- Slowest increases in permanent placements and temporary billings since August 2009
- Weakest rise in job vacancies for almost two years
- Pay pressures remain muted
- Stronger improvement in candidate availability

Key points from August survey:

- Further moderate increases in permanent placements and temporary billings
- Growth of vacancies continues to ease
- Weakest rise in permanent salaries for 22 months
- Strongest rise in permanent candidate availability since January 2010

Key points from July survey:

- Modest rises in permanent placements and temporary billings
- Demand for staff grows at slowest pace in eight months
- Pay growth quickens from June’s low but remains muted
- Faster improvement in candidate availability

Key points from June survey:

- Slower growth of both permanent and temporary appointments.
- Demand for staff increased at weaker pace.
- Pay growth eased further.
- Candidate availability continued to rise.

Key points from May survey:

- Weaker increases in both permanent placements and temp billings.
- Growth of overall job vacancies eased to five-month low.
- Slowest rise in permanent staff salaries for three months.
- Temp staff hourly pay rose at weaker rate.
- Candidate availability improved slightly.

Key points from April survey:

- Strong and accelerated rise in permanent staff placements.
- Temp billings increased at the slowest rate in four months.
- Permanent salary inflation edged up to nine-month high.
- Fastest rise in temp pay for a year.
- Candidate availability continued to improve.