Job vacancy numbers have returned to pre-recession levels while the salaries of permanent staff are still rising, according to the Bank of Scotland.
Vacancies for permanent staff are at their highest level in six years and temporary vacancy numbers are at a nine-year high, the bank’s latest report on jobs said.
Permanent salaries continued to rise faster than the UK as a whole last month. Temporary salaries had been rising at the start of the year but fell back slightly in recent months.
The overall health of the job market, as measured by Bank of Scotland’s labour market barometer, saw “a marked improvement” in October.
The bank assesses the health of the jobs market on a “barometer” ranging from one to 100, with the middle point representing no change, above 50 is positive and below is negative.
Donald MacRae, chief economist at Bank of Scotland, said: “October’s labour market barometer rose to its joint-highest level in over six years, taking the index back to pre-recession levels.
“Demand for staff rose at a marked pace across all sectors while the number of people appointed to jobs rose sharply in the month. Salaries for permanent jobs increased at a strong pace.
“The recovery in the Scottish economy is showing through in growing employment and rising pay.”