In general there has not been a lot movement in salaries over the past 12-18 months. We are hearing from many candidates who had been expecting a pay increase that this has not happened, and some who have experienced a temporary decrease in salaries, although in some situations there have been salary increases and bonuses paid. One area where candidates are still hard to come by is in the digital/online arena as this continues to grow and can be easily measured - this is an area where salaries have to remain competitive in order to secure high calibre candidates.

During the tough climate, candidates and employers alike have been cautious about changing roles and recruiting people respectively. Where companies have been recruiting, they are being extremely selective about the skills & experience they require, and whilst there have been and continue to be a mass of candidates available in the market, it is still a challenge to meet these increasingly particular briefs and identify the perfect candidate that meets the strict brief. 

Above all, the market is definitely showing signs of improvement, and confidence in the job market is returning! 

According to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG Report, demand for permanent staff in October rose for the first time in 17 months, and the fastest pace rise in two years.