Bank report suggests new jobs and vacancies are on the increase

The labour market has improved for job appointments and job vacancies, according to an economic report.

Strong increases in permanent and temporary staff placements were reported last month, the Bank of Scotland research shows.

It reflects greater client demand, with the rate of permanent vacancy growth the strongest since May.

Increased salaries and temporary hourly pay rates were also reported.

Donald MacRae, chief economist at the Bank of Scotland, said: “Conditions in the Scottish labour market improved in November with the barometer increasing to a seven-month high.

“Both the number of people appointed to jobs and the number of job vacancies rose in the month.”

Mr McCrae added: “Despite the economic slowdown, employers continue to hire, suggesting a rising trend in business confidence.”

Edinburgh-based recruitment firms reported the strongest increase in permanent placements last month.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The latest official labour market statistics, published last week, show that over the period August to October 2012 Scotland experienced the largest quarterly fall in its unemployment rate for four years”.