Recruitment Statistics - September 2025
Job Flow Index
The Firefish Job Flow Index allows you to explore recruitment statistics drawn from over 750 recruitment agencies.
Recruitment Overview
In September, following August’s seasonal dip, the market rebounded with increases across the board. The total volume of placements made in September increased by 14% marking a strong return to growth and reinforcing the ongoing trend of year-on-year improvement.
In September:
- The total volume of jobs created increased by 16%
- The total volume of placements made increased by 14%
- Temporary & contract placements increased by 10%
- Permanent placements increased by 22%
In September we saw a strong rise in permanent placements, increasing by 22% overall. Some of the standout performances came from Finance & Accountancy, which grew by 33%, and Construction Trades & Labour, which delivered a 40% increase.
It was not just permanent placements showing growth this month. The temp & contract market also performed strongly, with Technology rising 81% and Accountancy & Finance leading the way with a 220% month on month increase.
Overall, September has been a strong month, with the temp and contract market driving positive momentum as we move further into the final quarter of 2025.
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 3% in September.
Temp & contract placements in the professional services sector increased by 27% in September.
Professional Services
Finance & Accountancy
Permanent placements in the finance and accountancy increased by 33% in September.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector increased by 220% in September.
Technology
Permanent placements in the technology sector increased by 35% in September.
Temporary & contract placements in the technology sector increased by 81% in September.
Jobs created and number of placements
The total number of jobs created increased by 16% in September. The total number of placements made increased by 12%.
The total volume of placements made in September 2025 was 14% higher than in September 2024.
The number of permanent jobs created in September increased by 21%.
There was a 22% increase in the number of permanent placements made in September.
The number of temp & contract jobs created increased by 3% in September. There was a 10% increase in the number of temp & contract placements made in September.
The total number of temp & contract placements made in September 2025 was 17% higher than in September 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 40% in September.
Temporary & contract placements in the construction, trades & labour sector increased by 6% in September.
Engineering, Manufacturing, FMCG & Warehousing
Permanent placements in the manufacturing, engineering, FMCG & warehousing sector increased by 30% in September.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector increased by 77% in September.
Sales & Digital Marketing
Permanent placements in the sales & digital marketing sector decreased by 43% in September.
Temporary and contract placements in sales & digital marketing decreased by 40% in September.
In this sector, there was a total decrease of 40% in the total volume of placements made from September 2024 to September 2025.
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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 September 33% of applications were made by existing candidates.
In September 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 33% in September. Making this the second highest volume of the year to date, following March.
The number of quality applications per job remained steady at 6 in September.
Quality Applications Per Job
Applications from re-engaged candidates
87% of applications from re-engaged candidates were generated by Job Alerts in September.
Candidate applications from web sources
55% of applications from web sources were generated by Job Boards in September.
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 were 12% more spec CVs sent in September.
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