PERMANENT staff placements have increased modestly after slowing to a 26-month low in April.
However the rate of growth in May remained lower than levels seen in the first quarter, and below the placement rate achieved in 2014, the Bank of Scotland's latest labour market report has found.
The rate remained well below the average recorded over the upturn which began in early 2013, according to the report, with the increase in Scotland in May again below the UK average.
There was more cheer on billings for temporary staff, though, which increased at its fastest rate for six months, while still being below the average for the UK as a whole.
The report cited a sharp drop in the availability of candidates as a factor preventing recruitment consultants making permanent staff placements.
May's fall in candidates was the most pronounced since January, while the fall in temporary candidate availability was the second sharpest in the last eight months. It had hit a record in April.
At the same time, the demand for staff continued to grow in May, albeit the demand for permanent workers was its weakest since July 2013. Demand for permanent IT and computing science space was notably strong, according to recruitment consultancies.
Temporary job openings grew again, with the rate unchanged from April.
Aberdeen was the only region monitored by the report to not have seen increases in permanent placements and temporary billings. Dundee saw the fastest growth on both fronts, though shared the title with Edinburgh on temporary appointments.
Overall, the Bank of Scotland labour market for north of the Border registered 59.6 in May, slightly up in April's 22-month low of 59.1, but below the 62.0 recorded for the UK as a whole. It remained well ahead of the 50 score deemed to separate contraction from expansion.
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