The number of people looking for work in the UK has increased for the 41st consecutive month, while available vacancies have fallen for 22 months in a row, highlighting growing pressure on the jobs market. The unemployment rate currently stands at 4.9 per cent, with economists forecasting it could rise to around 5.3 per cent this year. - Advertisement -While permanent placements stabilised, temporary placements increased for a fourth consecutive month, suggesting some employers may be beginning to revive hiring plans. “Underemployment is becoming a growing concern for the UK economy,” commented Sheila Flavell, CBE, COO of FDM Group. Maxine Bligh, REC’s chief membership and innovation officer, said the rise in vacancies for temporary jobs, the first in two years, showed that employers were set to “revive hiring plans”.