The gradual rollback of pandemic restrictions and the roadmap out of lockdown led to a flurry of hiring activity across the UK at the start of the second quarter, according to the latest UK Report on Jobs data compiled by IHS Markit on behalf of KPMG and REC. However, the latest survey, which monitors over 400 recruitment consultancies across the UK, also pointed to a renewed decline in total candidate availability after a period of rapid redundancy-related expansion, which has pushed up rates of starting pay. {chart} Recruiters signalled the second-steepest increase in permanent staff appointments since data ... (full story)