Job vacancies at lowest level since 2005

The proportion of private-sector firms with job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in two-and-a-half years, according to the latest assessment by FAS and the ESRI.

The two organisations say just 10% of companies had jobs on offer last month, the lowest figure since August 2005.

The decrease has been driven by a significant reduction in vacancies in both the construction and services sectors.

Elsewhere, the survey found that future job prospects are generally neutral, with the number of employers expecting to increase their workforce roughly equal to the number expecting to lay off staff.