Fresh evidence of skills shortages has fanned fears about British companies’ long-term prospects if the government follows through on talk of an immigration crackdown. But the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) also found the availability of permanent and temporary staff continued to fall in September. The trade body said that based on its poll of 400 recruitment consultancies, those jobs suffering skills shortages included accountants, HGV drivers, architects, care workers, scientists and toolmakers. The report’s main business confidence index rose to 112.4 last month, not far off June’s reading of 112.6 and May’s 112.5. “It is now clear that business confidence took a short-term stumble in the wake of the EU vote instead of a long-term fall,” said Scott Corfe, director at the CEBR.

Source: The Guardian October 06, 2016 22:52 UTC