The long-term unemployed are finding it easier to find work for the first time in months, a charity revealed today.

According to Career Development Group (CDG), around seven per cent more people, who have been unemployed for six months or more, were placed into positions in October 2009 than in January 2008.

The figures are proof that the jobs market is improving, the welfare to work charity say.

It comes as the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) ‘Report on Jobs’ revealed the sharpest rise in the number of permanent placements since July 2007.

Roy O’Shaughnessy, chief executive of the CDG, said:  ”Our figures reflect those announced by the REC, but more significantly relate to those unemployed for longer than six months, for whom finding work has proved a significant challenge.

”Last year we supported more than 26,000 people on their journey towards sustainable employment, which, considering the current climate, is a figure we feel proud of.

”We hope to see a knock-on effect in employer confidence and that these promising figures can stimulate the market on a wider scale in 2010.”

Recruiter