Neil Carberry, REC Chief Executive, said:

“It’s always difficult to draw conclusions from jobs data in December, but the fact that the market in the UK slipped back a little on November is a reminder of the pressure employers are under.

“Making this a better year for hiring will require a focus on building business confidence to invest. With the Budget behind us, the government needs to set out a clear path that firms can believe in, from the industrial strategy to pragmatic approaches on the Employment Rights Act, which is worrying many firms.