UK companies opting to hire temporary workers over permanent staff, recruitment firms say

Recruitment firms say companies are turning to temporary contracts to plug staff gaps. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The Guardian

UK companies are increasingly hiring temporary workers instead of permanent staff because of low confidence in the economy and higher cost pressures, according to a report.

Recruiters reported a strong increase in offers of temporary roles in May, according to new research from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).