Benefits staff will be in demand come the recovery, according to HR recruiters.

John Maxted, managing director at Digby Morgan, told Recruiter that talent and compensation staff as well as resourcing staff will be required.

“I think there are perennial areas like reward where, whatever is happening, they are in demand. There will be a rush for talent, and compensation will be key, as will resourcing.

“Cutting across all the disciplines, talent will be the priority as the most able people right now tend not to be on the market.

“There is a pent-up frustration as people are used to moving on. There will be movement of high potential people. The areas where we have noticed a slowdown is at the top end and the bottom end.”

Helen Sharpe, consultant at Core Asset Consulting, adds: “Compensation and benefits and specialists in salary will be in demand. But also learning and development and coaching people will be in demand by firms looking internally to develop the talent they have in their company for the value of the company and to keep staff happy with their own personal development.