The monthly index of vacancies, compiled by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) trade body and accountants KPMG, fell in December to 53.0 as companies paused recruiting to cut back costs.
The figure is down from 54.1 in November to the lowest since February 2021.
Pay pressure on employers continued to soften in December, with starting salaries for permanent staff and pay rates for temporary workers growing at the slowest rate since April 2021.
However, inflation meant wage rates remained strong in the context of historical data.
“A slowdown in permanent placements is not unusual in December, but this one comes as part of a wider softening trend in the permanent market,” said REC chief executive Neil Carberry.
“Recruiters tell us that this was enhanced by firms pushing hiring activity back into January in the face of high inflation and economic uncertainty.”
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