The Scottish job market grew for the ninth month in a row, albeit at a slower rate than previous months, but still outperformed the UK as a whole for the sixth month in a row.

Compiled by financial information provider Markit, the Bank of Scotland Labour Market Barometer measured 53.9 for September, down 53.3 from August. This is the lowest figure since January, but an improvement on the same period last year, when August, September and October all showed contraction in the job market.

Dundee proved the strongest city for permanent staff placements, with Glasgow on top for temporary staff.

Edinburgh registered the highest rate of wage inflation for both permanent and temporary roles, with temp hourly pay across Scotland increasing for the 12th consecutive month.

The sector-by-sector analysis showed that IT and computing remained the fastest growing industry for permanent positions. Engineering and construction was the quickest-growing sector for temporary staff, and the second quickest for permanent staff.

While hotel and catering was the only sector to record a fall in full-time jobs available, it also had the second-highest increase in temporary positions.