UK permanent jobs rise for first time in four months

British employers expanded their permanent workforce for the first time in four months in January, a survey of recruitment agencies said on Wednesday, adding to signs that the economy may be improving. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) said their monthly index of permanent staff placements rose to 51.2 from 48.5, the first reading above the 50 line separating growth from contraction since September.
"There are glimmers of hope for the UK jobs market," said REC chief executive Kevin Green. "The Report on Jobs also follows better than expected services data from the Purchasing Managers' Index last Friday, which suggests that confidence is growing amongst consumers as well as businesses." Britain's dominant services sector grew at the fastest pace in 10 months in January and employment in the sector rose at the sharpest rate in almost four years, the Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index showed last week.