UK firms are taking on more temporary workers, finds a survey by staffing firm Venn Group.
The Venn report noted a 5.2% increase in hiring levels across the UK, but the picture varied greatly according to region and industry.
Altogether, temporary vacancies in commerce and industry across the UK soared 32.% between the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012. London bucked this positive trend, however, as temporary employment levels plummeted 34%, due in part, the report suggested, to companies taking on extra staff to prepare for the Olympics .
While the number of financial services vacancies dropped sharply, the public sector proved buoyant with a 33% increase in positions.
Reflecting on the almost 10% dip in vacancies between the two last quarters of 2012, Robert Bowyer, director of Venn Group said: “This blip is reflected in recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics which show that GDP shrunk by 0.3% last quarter.
"However between quarter four 2011 and quarter four 2012, employment levels have slowly risen which indicates a long-term sustainable growth.”
