U.K. job market: Fastest decline in job vacancies for 7 years

Demand for staff last month fell at the fastest rate for almost seven years as the outlook for jobs continued to falter, according to a survey of recruitment companies.

The study by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and consultant KPMG reported that appointments of permanent staff had fallen at the fastest rate since November 2001. Billings for temporary staff had fallen for the first time since May 2003.

According to last month's official figures, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit has risen in each of the previous six months, increasing in July at the fastest rate since 1992.

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