The rate of growth in the UK job market was at its weakest for 22-months, according to a new report.
A drop in the number of people securing permanent vacancies contributed to the decline.
The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) said that there had been a softening in demand for staff in June 2011 with permanent vacancies rising at its slowest pace in six months.
Kevin Green, chief executive of the REC, said: “Jobs growth has slowed to a 22-month low but we remain optimistic that the private sector can absorb public sector cuts.
“Although there has been a deceleration in the rate of growth, the UK jobs market is resilient and we are not expecting a double dip in employment.”
The demand for permanent vacancies has largely been driven by executive and professional workers, engineers and people working in IT.
There has been less of a demand for blue-collared workers and those working in healthcare.
The latest survey from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) revealed that unemployment in the construction industry is still rising and risks undermining the UK’s economic recovery.