Permanent staff placements fell for the second month in a row in November, highlighting a "rapidly declining" jobs market, employment agencies have reported.
Research among 400 recruitment and employment firms showed a two-year low in permanent job vacancies but an increase in jobs for temporary or contract staff.
The availability of staff to fill jobs continued to rise last month, said the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
Chief executive Kevin Green said its study highlighted a "rapidly declining" jobs market, adding: "The market has been slowing since May but this slowdown has accelerated in the autumn. This is being driven by the double whammy of falling business and consumer confidence.
"This is bad news for those out of work and, as a consequence, we expect unemployment to rise in December and January. On a positive note, however, the report shows that temporary staff appointments are still growing, albeit at a decreasing rate."
Meanwhile, cities outside London and the South East are at risk of being left behind unless the Government adopts a less centralised growth and innovation policy, the Work Foundation warned.
The research organisation called on the Government to rethink its policies so that cities in the North and Midlands can fulfil their potential.