UK firms 'confident about growth' in 2012

The majority of UK firms are confident that they will experience growth in the coming months and expand their workforces, according to a new poll by Robert Half.

Results of the survey, carried out as part of Professional Hiring Index, shows that, despite the uncertain economic outlook, 72 per cent of UK executives are more confident about their company's growth prospects for 2012 than they were at this point in 2011.

Overall, 79 per cent of organisations are intending to either maintain or increase the number of people they employ, with the biggest drivers for increased hiring levels being rising workloads and business growth.

The data showed that 33 per cent of private companies are planning to add to their permanent headcount in 2012, while 42 per cent of publicly-listed companies are planning increases.

Phil Sheridan, managing director of Robert Half UK, said that both private and publicly-listed companies have above average confidence in their businesses' ability to grow this year.

"This positive belief in their future success is the main driver behind stronger predictions for new hires over the next six months: more than three-in-four private companies and 80 per cent of publicly-listed companies are confident in their businesses' growth prospects," he explained.

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Posted by John Oak and Wayne Bly

Filed: 25-01-2012