Recruitment Statistics - February 2025
Job Flow Index
The Firefish Job Flow Index allows you to explore recruitment statistics drawn from over 750 recruitment agencies.
Recruitment Overview
February experienced an increase in the volume of permanent placements being made. Market hiring hesitancy has been suppressing the permanent job market in recent months, but February experienced growth of 21% in permanent jobs. Following on from a 25% increase last month, this is a positive indication that businesses are becoming more confident about making permanent hires again.
The volume of temp & contract placements decreased by 5% in February but remains 48% higher YOY.
The total number of jobs created in February was slightly lower than in January, following the annual trend of a small decline after the New Year boom. Data trends indicate that job creation should increase steadily as we head into the Spring period.
In February:
- Permanent placements increased by 21%.
- Temporary & contract placements decreased by 4%.
- The total volume of placements decreased by 1%.
- The total volume of jobs created decreased by 6%.
- The total volume of placements was 33% higher than in February 2024.
The big winners in February were permanent jobs in perm-focused industries. The finance & accountancy sector experienced a 64% increase in permanent placements. The sales & digital marketing sector also increased perm placements by 43% in February.
In the engineering, manufacturing, FMCG and warehousing sector, perm placements increased by 26%, while temp & contract placements decreased by 28%.
The monthly Job Flow Index analyses recruitment statistics and industry trends to provide recruitment agency leaders with insight into market conditions.
Placements by sector
Permanent placements in the professional services sector increased by 12% in February.
Temp & contract placements in the professional services sector decreased by 17% in February.
Professional Services
Finance & Accountancy
Permanent placements in the finance and accountancy sector increased by 64% in February.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector increased by 5% in February.
Technology
Permanent placements in the technology sector increased by 23% in February.
Temporary & contract placements in the technology sector decreased by 25% in February.
Jobs created and number of placements
The number of jobs created decreased by 6% in February. The total number of placements made decreased by 1%.
The total number of placements made in February 2025 was 33% higher than in February 2024.
The number of permanent jobs created in January decreased by 7%.
There was a 21% increase in the number of permanent placements made in February.
The number of temp & contract jobs created decreased by 4% in February. There was a 5% decrease in the number of temp & contract placements made in February.
The total number of temp & contract placements made in February 2025 was 48% higher than in February 2024.
Permanent
Temp & Contract
Placements
Explore monthly recruitment statistics including agency placement trends. Compare jobs created to placements made and explore performance by sector.
Construction, Trades & Labour
Permanent placements in the construction, trades & labour sector decreased by 10% in February.
Temporary & contract placements in the construction, trades & labour sector increased by 4% in February.
Engineering, Manufacturing, FMCG & Warehousing
Permanent placements in the manufacturing, engineering, FMCG & warehousing sector increased by 26% in February.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector decreased by 28% in February.
Sales & Digital Marketing
Permanent placements in the sales & digital marketing sector increased by 43% in February.
Temporary and contract placements in sales & digital marketing increased by 39% in February.
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Recruitment Marketing Statistics
Explore monthly recruitment agency marketing trends. Discover how different recruitment marketing strategies are performing.
Application Source
The source of applications for your agency's job is a good indicator of the strength of your agency's brand presence and candidate loyalty.
In February 35% of applications were made by existing candidates.
In February there was a 4% decrease in the total number of applications.
Job Adverts
This chart shows the number of new job adverts posted each month across all sectors and platforms. Multiple adverts can be posted per job, but this data indicates the volume of active adverts per month.
The number of job adverts posted decreased by 6% in February.
The number of quality applications per job remained steady at 6 in February.
Quality Applications Per Job
Applications from re-engaged candidates
92% of applications from re-engaged candidates were generated by Job Alerts in February.
Candidate applications from web sources
60% of applications from web sources were generated by Job Boards in February.
Rob Samuel
IT Manager, IntaPeople
Spec CVs Sent
The sending of speculative CVs (when there is no formal role available) can indicate market confidence and business development activity. There is a clear correlation between Spec CV activity and the number of jobs created in any given month.
There was a 2% increase in the number of spec CVs sent in February.
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