Christmas can cheer jobs market

LONDON firms are planning to crank up their recruitment drives between now and Christmas, but the outlook for the capital's job market remains fragile, according to a new report.

The survey, from recruitment specialists Manpower, shows a net 9% intend to hire more staff over the next three months, up from 3% from the previous quarter. But the figure is the lowest fourth-quarter reading for five years, indicating that, although the capital's economy is recovering, firms remain cautious.

The South-East region also saw a pick-up in hiring plans. London's massive service and public sectors are behind most of the improvement. In the City, the jobs outlook remains precarious.

Pat Manning, regional manager of Manpower London, said: 'We've seen positive indications the market is improving and London is recovering faster than the rest of the country.'

She said firms were dipping their toes into the recruitment waters by hiring temporary staff with a view to taking them on permanently. She said there was still a hesitance to commit to longer-term plans.

The monthly Royal Bank of Scotland London poll last week showed the rate of job-shedding in August was the slowest for two years. And personnel group Hays said it was 'cautiously optimistic' about the future.

Boots is to take on an extra 5,000 staff in the run-up to Christmas. The temporary jobs include 900 in London and the South-East.