The long-term unemployed are finding it easier to find work, reflecting growing optimism that the labour market is improving, according to a welfare to work charity.

Career Development Group (CDG) says that it placed 7% more of its long-term unemployed clients into work in October 2009 than in January 2009. 

Earlier this week, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) ‘Report on Jobs’ revealed the sharpest acceleration in the growth of permanent placements since July 2007.

CDG chief executive Roy O’Shaughnessy says: “Our figures reflect those announced by the REC yesterday, but more significantly relate to those unemployed for longer than six months, for whom finding work has proved a significant challenge.

“Last year we supported more than 26,000 people on their journey towards sustainable employment, which, considering the current climate, is a figure we feel proud of. We hope to see a knock-on effect in employer confidence and that these promising figures can stimulate the market on a wider scale in 2010.”