THE number of workers placed in jobs by recruitment agencies has fallen in response to the worsening economic downturn.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said there was a "considerable decline" in demand for permanent and temporary staff.

The number of job vacancies also fell in most sectors apart from nursing, medical and care, leading to downward pressures on salaries, the report found.

Demand for staff has fallen at the fastest rate since the report was launched a decade ago,.

Chief executive Kevin Green said: "These figures are deeply worrying and show that the contraction in the labour market is now rapidly accelerating."