Economically “robust conditions” sees rising demand for Scots workers

The report found that last month there were sharp rises in worker placements, record growth in permanent staff demand and falling availability.

In terms of staff demand, the data signalled the fastest rate of expansion in the survey’s 14-year history, with growth faster in Scotland than across the UK as a whole.

Scottish recruitment consultancies also recorded further steep growth in demand for temporary staff.

Sector data indicated that staff demand rose fastest in the IT and Computing sector for both permanent and temporary roles.

Meanwhile, the rate of expansion in permanent staff placements in Scotland reached its highest in 27 months as growth matched the UK as a whole, which was at a 25-month high.

In terms of pay pressure, salary inflation also remained steep in May according to the report.

The latest data showed that the number of available candidates for vacant positions in Scotland fell steeply, albeit at a slower rate than across the UK as a whole.

Tom Hadley, director of policy at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said the report highlighted the pressures employers were facing in recruiting staff.

“With demand for permanent staff in Scotland now at the highest level recorded in the survey’s 14-year history, the challenges facing the next government couldn’t be clearer. The number of people available to fill vacancies has plummeted, official data shows unemployment has dropped to the lowest level since 1975, and EU citizens are leaving the UK in droves. Employers are running out of options.”