Almost half of British businesses expect to increase their workforce by the start of next year, according to new research.
A poll by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) indicated that 47 per cent of firms plan to have new staff members on board before the turn of the year, whilst just 19 per cent are preparing to reduce the amount of people on their payroll.
The Independent reports that small firms with fewer than 250 employees were the most likely to be hiring throughout the remainder of the year, whilst 16 per cent of businesses claimed they would be creating more temp jobs in the near future.
Reacting to the results, CBI deputy director-general Dr Neil Bentley was delighted to see that recruitment levels look set to improve in the short-term.
However, in an interview with managers.org.uk, he warned employers to ensure that they were in a position where it was financially viable to recruit additional staff.
He said: "It is encouraging that firms right across the UK are growing their workforces, especially smaller companies - but employers are making hiring plans on shifting sands and there is a risk that the tentative private sector jobs recovery could be blow off course by fast-moving economic events at home and abroad."