PageGroup reaps record profits in hot jobs market

Recruitment consultancy PageGroup posted record profits and increased its dividend as the job market remains hot thanks to candidate shortages.

The UK-listed group on Thursday reported £196mn in operating profit in the past year, against £168.5mn the previous year. Its board proposed to increase its final dividend by 4.5 per cent to 10.76p a share.

Covid-19 restrictions in China as well as softer candidate and client confidence at the end of the year hit productivity in the second half.

“There remains a high level of global macroeconomic and political uncertainty,” said chief executive Nicholas Kirk.

“However, against this backdrop, we continue to see candidate shortages and good levels of vacancies,” he added.