Released on 16 September 2009

The number of people out of work in the UK has increased to 2.47 million, a rise of 210,000 in the three months to July according to the Office of National Statistics’ figures published today.

Responding to the latest figures, Kevin Green, the REC’s Chief Executive, says: “Though these statistics may paint a sombre picture, many professional recruiters are reporting positive signs within UK jobs market with recent industry data in our Report on Jobs showing modest increases in both permanent and temporary appointments.

“Employers are starting to become more confident in their hiring decisions, but this stabilisation in the jobs environment must not be jeopardised by potentially onerous new employment regulations such as the EU Directive on agency work. As unemployment will continue to rise well into 2010, we are calling on the Government to continue harnessing the views and contribution of professional recruiters and to avoid hampering the recovery of the jobs market through a heavy-handed approach to new regulations.”

Kevin Green added: “From the point of view of new jobseekers needing professional support and guidance, we are striving to build better partnerships between the public sector with private sector employers and agencies to develop an ‘all hands on deck approach’ to get them back into work as quickly and as effectively as possible.”