Although the summer slowdown in hiring by firms in the City of London has been sharp in 2011, recruitment activity in the sector is continuing.

As a result, Astbury Marsden chief operating officer Mark Cameron claims the UK will not see a repeat of falls witnessed following the 2007 financial markets crisis.

Individuals seeking finance jobs in the UK may be interested in his comments that: "We are expecting some improvements - albeit not dramatic - during September and through to the end of October."

However, the firm's latest City employment figures show there was a 20 per cent year-on-year fall in new paid roles to 4,030 in August 2011 compared with the previous year as a result of continued economic uncertainty and poor quarterly bank results.

According to the study, workers specializing in risk, change management and regulatory issues remain in demand as a result of increased legislation relating to the banking industry.

Latest figures for September 2011 from the UK Office for National Statistics show the unemployment rate stands at 7.9 per cent and 70.5 per cent of working age people are in jobs.

Posted by Alex Donnell