Boost in Candidate Availability: Navigating the Shifting Job Market Landscape

The latest Report on Jobs from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has revealed that candidate availability has risen for the first time since February 2021 for both permanent and temporary roles. The report suggests that this increase is due to an improvement in the confidence of job seekers and a rise in redundancies. Additionally, starting pay has also increased for both permanent and temporary workers, which is often linked to skill shortages and cost-of-living pressures.

Increase in Candidate Availability

According to the latest report, there has been an increase in candidate availability for both permanent and temporary roles. This is the first time it has happened since February 2021. The increase is attributed to the improvement in job seekers’ confidence as they anticipate more job opportunities. The report also suggests that redundancies are contributing to the increase in candidate availability, as more people enter the job market. However, the report highlights that the growth of candidate availability is being impeded by the number of candidates dropping out of recruitment processes.

Increase in Starting Pay

The report reveals that starting pay has increased for both permanent and temporary workers. This is largely due to skill shortages and cost-of-living pressures. Employers are willing to pay higher salaries to employees with the right skillset. Consequently, temporary workers have been receiving better pay due to a shortage of available qualified candidates. This often creates a dilemma for employers who have to make a choice between investing in training or paying a higher salary.

Temporary Jobs Continue to Grow

While permanent placements have continued to decline, the rate of decline has slowed slightly. The report reveals that temporary roles have grown due to the shortage of qualified candidates in the job market. Temporary workers have been receiving better pay due to the demand for their services, but there remains a concern for their job stability.

The latest report on jobs from KPMG and the REC indicates a positive trend in the job market. The increase in candidate availability and starting pay could create new opportunities for job seekers. However, there remains a shortage of qualified candidates, particularly for permanent roles. The challenge for organizations is to address the needs of job seekers to attract and retain their talent. Ultimately, the recruitment process involves communicating with people, not buying paperclips. Employers must invest in their employees, provide opportunities for training and development, and offer support for childcare and transportation to attract and retain talent.

Explore more

Financial AI Evolution Requires New Network Infrastructure

The silent cost of a single dropped data packet in a multi-day high-frequency AI training cluster can burn through thousands of dollars in a heartbeat, yet most banks are still running on pipes built for the era of static spreadsheets. As the industry moves through 2026, the transition of artificial intelligence from experimental side-projects to the central nervous system of

Is AI Integration Outpacing Governance in Global Finance?

The financial landscape is shifting beneath the surface as sophisticated algorithms now execute complex trades and predict market fluctuations with a speed that human analysts simply cannot match. This rapid evolution has pushed 77% of financial organizations to integrate artificial intelligence into their core operations. However, a jarring discrepancy exists, as only 14% of these firms are operating under a

How Are Cobots and AI Transforming Industrial Automation?

The rhythmic, synchronized movement of robotic arms no longer occurs behind thick plexiglass or steel mesh, as the walls once defining the factory floor have begun to disappear in favor of seamless interaction. This transition represents a $16.7 billion pivot toward collaborative intelligence, where machines are no longer isolated assets but active partners. As the industry moves into a more

BNPL Growth Challenges US Merchants With Fraud and Disputes

The meteoric rise of installment-based spending has fundamentally altered the American retail landscape, yet the very convenience that drives consumer conversion is now triggering a complex crisis of fraud and operational instability for merchants. Retailers today find themselves in a precarious position where providing the most popular payment options often means opening the door to sophisticated financial threats that bypass

Study Reveals Hidden Impact of BNPL on Prices and Inventory

A single tap on a smartphone screen now allows a shopper to walk away with a high-end leather jacket or a full cart of groceries while deferring the financial reality to a later date. While millions of consumers view the “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) button as a harmless financial bridge, recent data suggests that the zero-interest promise comes with