The research, published today, reveals 32% are also uncertain about agency worker hiring over the next four to 12 months, while those employers who respond ‘don’t know’ about their medium-term hiring plans for permanent workers has increased from 10% in February last year to 18% currently.

This month’s findings also shows that more than a third (35%) of respondents think UK economic conditions are getting worse, while only one in five (21%) say they are improving. The net balance of confidence in hiring and investment decisions has fallen to eight, which is the lowest since the June 2016 EU referendum.

The survey of 600 employers also finds:

• Large employers (250+ employees) are especially affected: almost half (47%) are not sure if their organisation will increase or decrease their number of agency workers in the next three months. This is up from 40% last month and from 18% in February last year.
• Just 18% of employers plan to increase their permanent staff over the next four to 12 months, down from 23% at the same point last year.
• The proportion of respondents planning to increase their temporary agency staff in the medium-term has fallen from 17% in February 2017 to 11% now.

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