Latest research from the Recruitment Confidence Index has found that recruitment is set to rise for the fourth quarter in a row and more than half of employers expect the size of their workforce to increase.
In addition, 23% of employers say the number of unfilled vacancies will go up over the next six months.
However, the survey, conducted by Cranfield School of Management and the Daily Telegraph, also found that employers were not planning an increase in recruitment spend, nor did they predict a severe skills shortage.
Prof Shaun Tyson of Cranfield did not share this optimism.
Commenting on the results he said: "The question is will the supply of labour be readily available, especially in the 'hot spots' of the South East of England?
"The imminent expansion of the European Union does have the potential to fill some of these jobs, but it is unlikely to have a dramatic impact immediately."
He added a warning that rising labour costs could mean jobs moving out of the UK to elsewhere in Europe.
· Sales managers will be in greatest demand over the next six months with one in three employers - 33% - looking to recruit selling skills.
· IT staffing looks set to emerge from the doldrums. For the first time in four years employers are predicting a rise in demand for IT skills. Eighteen per cent say they will recruit IT staff over the next six months, up from 15% in the last quarter.
· The vast majority of employers - 86% - expect pay rises of less than 4%. However, the number of employers expecting pay awards to top 4% has risen slightly.
