Key points

The net employment balance – the difference between employers expecting there will be an increase in staff levels and those expecting there will be a decrease in the next three months – remains low this quarter at +7.

Employment intentions in the public sector have fallen to −11 this quarter. This means that more public sector employers expect staff numbers to decrease than increase over the next three months. It has remained below zero for the last four quarters.

Just 15% of employers are anticipating significant problems in filling vacancies in the next six months.

Three-quarters of employers expect the Employment Rights Act (ERA) to increase their employment costs.

Approximately two in five employers expect to hire fewer permanent workers due to the key ERA reforms.

Over half of employers anticipate an increase in workplace conflict because of at least one of the key ERA changes being introduced.