UK Hiring Freeze Worsens as Cost Increases Bite, Recruiters Say
British employers scaled back hiring further in May in the wake of the sharp tax increases imposed by the Labour government and US President Donald Trump's trade war, according to a closely watched survey.
A gauge of permanent staff placements deteriorated to 44.2, falling further below the 50 threshold indicating contraction, the report by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation and KPMG found. Hiring freezes deepened on the back of higher costs and an uncertain outlook, leaving the index below levels when Labour came to power.
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