This is according to data published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) in its latest Outlook on Jobs report.

In addition, pay growth rates for temporary staff grew at their lowest rate in four months, indicative of an overall slowdown in the recruitment sector.

Availability among temporary workers also rose, but again this month-on-month improvement was the weakest in the current 28-month growth period.

REC chief executive said that the figures indicate that public sector spending cuts are finally beginning to bite.

"With 600,000 job cuts forecast in the public sector over the next year, the government must do everything possible to boost job creation in private sector – in particular by reducing business taxation and regulation," he added.

Job losses have also led to morale among remaining workers falling, due to higher workload, according to Mike Petrook, head of public affairs at the Chartered Management Institute.