Recruitment Statistics - March 2025
Job Flow Index
The Firefish Job Flow Index allows you to explore recruitment statistics drawn from over 750 recruitment agencies.
Recruitment Overview
As we close out the first quarter of 2025 there is a continued positive story of growth for the job market. Permanent placements increased for the third consecutive month and temp and contract placements are 57% higher YOY.
This positive growth, particularly in the permanent market, is promising in light of National Insurance Charge increases coming into effect in April. Having seen significant market hesitancy in the latter months of 2024, the continued growth demonstrates the increased confidence of businesses in 2025.
In March:
- Permanent placements increased by 6%.
- Temporary & contract placements increased by 11%.
- The total volume of placements increased by 10%.
- The total volume of jobs created increased by 3%.
The big winners in March were the construction, trades and labour sector and the technology sector, which increased placement volume by 11% and 15%, respectively.
The finance & accountancy sector also experienced a 57% increase in temp and contract placements, although permanent placements in this sector decreased by 68%. In the engineering, manufacturing, FMCG and warehousing sector, temp & contract placements placements increased by 47%, while perm placements decreased by 18%.
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 19% in March.
Temp & contract placements in the professional services sector remained steady in March.
Professional Services
Finance & Accountancy
Permanent placements in the finance and accountancy sector decreased by 68% in March.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector increased by 57% in March.
Technology
Permanent placements in the technology sector increased by 12% in March.
Temporary & contract placements in the technology sector increased by 19% in March.
Jobs created and number of placements
The number of jobs created increased by 3% in March. The total number of placements made increased by 10%.
The total number of placements made in March 2025 was 43% higher than in March 2024.
The number of permanent jobs created in March increased by 1%.
There was a 6% increase in the number of permanent placements made in March.
The number of temp & contract jobs created increased by 6% in March. There was a 11% increase in the number of temp & contract placements made in March.
The total number of temp & contract placements made in March 2025 was 57% higher than in March 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 increased by 23% in March.
Temporary & contract placements in the construction, trades & labour sector increased by 11% in March.
Engineering, Manufacturing, FMCG & Warehousing
Permanent placements in the manufacturing, engineering, FMCG & warehousing sector decreased by 18% in March.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector increased by 47% in March.
Sales & Digital Marketing
Permanent placements in the sales & digital marketing sector decreased by 22% in March.
Temporary and contract placements in sales & digital marketing increased by 36% in March.
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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 March 35% of applications were made by existing candidates.
In March there was a 6% increase 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 increased by 14% in March.
The number of quality applications per job remained steady at 6 in March.
Quality Applications Per Job
Applications from re-engaged candidates
84% of applications from re-engaged candidates were generated by Job Alerts in March.
Candidate applications from web sources
60% of applications from web sources were generated by Job Boards in March.
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 6% increase in the number of spec CVs sent in March.
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