Demand for workers at four-year low

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said recruitment plans had not changed in recent months as firms adopted a cautious "wait and see" approach to staffing requirements.

A survey of 735 employers showed that just over a third expected staff numbers to have increased in the past few months.

Dr John Philpott, CIPD chief economist, said: "Conditions in the UK labour market are clearly softer than six months ago and softer than at this time of year for several years.

"With employers in 'wait and see' mode it remains possible that falling confidence in the outlook for the economy might still trigger a wave of job cuts. If so the tipping point in confidence could result in a sudden avalanche of redundancies and quickly transform the current relatively benign jobs scene. A further early cut in interest rates would be advisable to limit the chances of this outcome."

Dr Philpott said the labour market was experiencing a period of relative slowdown, which might show up in official unemployment figures being published later.