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The employment outlook among UK businesses is at its highest point since before the recession, new research has revealed. 12/12/12

According to a study of 2,100 employers carried out by recruitment firm ManpowerGroup, more companies expect to recruit staff in the next three months than reduce their workforce.

The seasonally adjusted figures show a net employment outlook of +6, which relates to the proportion of employers saying they hope to take on new employees in the near future compared to those who don’t.

This is the highest figure recorded since 2008.

Mark Cahill, UK managing director at ManpowerGroup, said, 'The remarkable resilience of the UK labour market looks set to continue.'

However, he added, 'We should not get carried away - today's jobs market lacks the dynamism we saw before 2008 with the vast majority of UK firms continuing to sit on their hands.'

The news comes after a similarly positive report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG, which showed the rate of permanent staff placements was the fastest for 19 months in November.

In addition, the research found permanent staff salaries rose last month.

REC chief executive Kevin Green commented, 'Recruiters are reporting another monthly increase in the number of people they have placed into permanent and temporary jobs and it's beginning to look like an accelerating trend.

'Employer confidence is genuinely bouncing back with businesses feeling more encouraged to hire, which bodes well for the new year.'