Recruitment activity is beginning to improve, but competition for jobs is high, it has been revealed.

Total Back Office Solutions can give you recruitment agency formation advice

Those looking to set up a recruitment agency may find some encouragement from the latest figures on the state of the labour market released by Totaljobs.com.

According to the recruitment firm, hiring activity is picking up as the number of vacancies created has increased by more than six per cent over the last few months, reports the UK Press Association.

However, people looking for recruitment agency formation advice may be concerned to hear that job hunters still face a difficult period as some secretarial jobs are attracting 26 applications.

"A slight rise in recruitment has encouraged those in employment to have confidence to seek their next position," John Salt, director of Totaljobs.com, is quoted by the news provider as saying.

"This is increasing competition for those out of employment and increasingly pitching the desperate against the ambitious in a two speed jobs market."

Recruiters setting up their own companies can outsource back office solutions such as invoice and payroll management in order to free up their time.