Figures show new job vacancies rise

The Reed Job Index measures conditions and trends in the jobs market each month
6 June 2012

New job vacancies increased by 5% in May compared with the previous month, and 17% against May 2011, according to a study.

The Reed Job Index, which measures conditions and trends in the jobs market each month, found healthy growth in more than 70% of the nation's employment sectors, with health and medicine, charity and voluntary and education roles faring strongest, recording monthly growth of 22%, 19% and 18% respectively.

Around the UK, 10 out of 12 regions showed increasing job growth. The East Midlands, the South West and Scotland saw the biggest jump in opportunities, enjoying 10%, 7% and 7% monthly growth respectively. Job opportunities in London increased by 5%.

The index showed national salary growth remaining flat, registering 0% annual and monthly growth.

Mark Rhodes, marketing director at job site reed.co.uk, said: "May proved to be a buoyant month for the jobs market, with encouraging national growth replicated across the vast majority of regions and sectors.

"It is particularly interesting that the strongest growth has come from within the support services arena. Given the macroeconomic climate, the education, charity and health sectors are all facing significant pressures so the increase in opportunities in these areas is highly encouraging.

"While the UK is still technically in recession, these figures point towards a growing confidence among UK employers and we're cautiously optimistic about the prospects for continued jobs growth over the coming month, though recruiters will be keeping a keen eye on developments in the eurozone.

"It will also be interesting to see how the Jubilee bank holiday celebrations have impacted the employment picture in next month's figures, particularly in the retail, leisure and hospitality fields."

The index is compiled through analysis of job advertisement trends from more than 10,000 recruiters throughout the UK.

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