If you believe that work hasn't just gone somewhere less safe and secure, or that £1bn is available for frontline services - I have a bridge to sell you. Bank now costs a lot more than agency. Also, that £1bn is largely medic wages - some of whom are now working in supermarkets instead. (2/2)

...and partnership working around the skills we need (and how only our flexible labour market can really deliver them) would all help to remove barriers to investment. Read more: (9/9)

www.rec.uk.com/our-view/new...

However valid, today's immigration changes are, there is a risk they play into a narrative that Govt isn't helping businesses to employ and grow. That needs to be addressed, and with more than warm words. A business voice on new visa changes, practicality in the ERB... (8/)

..by a combo of higher taxes business activity taxes (esp NI), uncertainties about global economic picture, and the threat of further domestic cost increases, especially around tax and the Employment Right Bill, which is lacking in details that might reassure businesses. (7/)

My takeaway is that the fundamentals here may be ok - cost of capital coming down, households have cash (but not yet ready to spend), UK global trading position looks better than it has for a while. But momentum is being held up... (6/)

...reflecting bow wave of NI rises (esp. cut to threshold), NHS staffing cutbacks and other cost concerns. (5/)

Perm starting wages remain below their long-term trend, sticking at 53.3 again this month. In sectors, engineering stands out, returning to growth for permanent roles, and some signs of improvement in perm construction. Hospitality, Retail and Nursing/Medical Care weak. (4/)

Vacancies dropped again, maintaining pattern since the post-pandemic peak (43.1), & staff availability grew (62.8 perm, 59.6 temp), but at a lower rate than last month. Temp wages spiked a bit (53.9, up from 50-ish in Jan/Feb), presumably reflecting the NMW rise. (3/)

Permanent hiring shrank for the 31st straight month (44.7) but that rate is the best in 7 months. Temp hiring also down (46.3) but joint best since last November in the lee of the Budget. No momentum yet - but there is some underlying demand. (2/)

Our other survey, #JobsOutlook, shows that businesses are FAR more confident about themselves than about the wider economy, acting on that - not worries - matters. There is more risk in the world now. We just need to get on with it. Read more at rec.uk.com (5/5)

For now, Government doing more to build employer confidence matters - the Employment Rights Bill and the Industrial Strategy are opportunities to show they are listening. But for businesses, focusing on what they can do and not getting distracted is essential (4/5).

Pay still growing at below long-term trends, and job search activity now reaching a high in the period since 2020. My sense is that businesses are waiting to asses the impact of April cost rises and the tariff wars, but there is potential there. Unlocking it matters. (3/)

This report is summing up members’ March billings data. Overall, still slowing but at a less rapid rate than over the Winter - levels similar to Feb. Some signs of warming - London permanent billings grew for the first time in a year. (2/)