Recruiters, led by the private sector, filled permanent vacancies at the fastest pace in 10 months in February while wage inflation eased to a three-month low. Research for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG also showed hiring of temporary staff rose at its sharpest rate since May 2007, offering hope the economy might bounce back from the shock contraction it suffered late last year. The permanent placements index -- a measure of how many firms are hiring extra workers compared to the previous month -- rose to 62.7 in February from an upwardly revised 58.2 in January. It has been above the 50 level, which separates growth from contraction, for 19 months.
Reuters, March 2011
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