Job opportunities have grown for the second month in a row, according to the latest Reed Job Index, bucking the typically flat summer period.

Seasonal factors failed to prevent a 1% month-on-month rise in August in the UK job market, equating to an impressive 14% year-on-year.

Over half of the UK’s employment sectors (52%) are now posting significantly more jobs than last month, with the construction and property and transport and logistics sectors faring particularly well, enjoying 20% and 16% growth respectively. 

On an annual basis the figures are stronger still, with 73% of sectors growing compared with this time last year.

Overall, every UK region is enjoying annual jobs growth, with half the regions witnessing more opportunities compared with July. Scotland and Wales are faring particularly well, registering month-on-month growth of 9% and 5% respectively. In London, monthly growth dropped off slightly by 1%, though on an annual basis opportunities are up by a 12%.

Commenting on the latest figures, Martin Warnes, managing director at reed.co.uk, says: “August is traditionally one of the quietest times of the year for recruitment so it is highly encouraging that opportunities have continued to grow. 

“Our data has been pointing towards an improving jobs market for many months now. These latest figures add further weight to the argument that jobs growth has actually been embedded for some time.

“Looking ahead, the coming three months will be hugely instructive as to the overall prospects for the economy. The pre-Christmas period is typically one of the most fruitful of the year for job hunters as businesses prepare for the New Year, and we are hopeful that the trend of recent jobs growth can in turn spur an upturn in the wider UK economy.”

The Reed Job Index is based on data from reed.co.uk, which every day lists over 100,000 job opportunities from more than 9,000 recruiters across 37 career sectors and 12 regions throughout the UK.