Private sector jobs increase

Private sector job creation continued to increase last month, according to a new survey of employers and recruitment agencies.

The latest report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and the auditors KPMG indicates that there was modest growth in the number of permanent and temporary placements in August.

The survey also found that demand for staff continued to rise, although at the slowest pace in nine months. Weaker rates of expansion were seen in hiring rates for both permanent and temporary staff.

Bernard Brown, at KPMG, said: "There seem to be early signs of trends similar to those of 2008. Whether this is a blip... will emerge over the next few months."