City jobs jump by two thirds as hiring "gathers momentum" but fears remain

Recruitment firm Astbury Marsden recorded 1,340 new City jobs in December, down 46% on a busy November, but much higher than the same month in 2012.

City jobs jump by two thirds as hiring "gathers momentum" but fears remain (GETTY IMAGES)

The number of new City jobs fell by almost half in December compared to a month earlier but was still two-thirds higher than the figure a year ago.

Recruitment firm Astbury Marsden recorded 1,340 new City jobs in December, down by 46 per cent on a busier than normal November, but much higher than the same month in 2012.

Almost 28,000 new jobs were created last year, a decline of 21 per cent on 2012.

Mark Cameron, chief operating officer at Astbury Marsden, said: "The City jobs market is finally starting to gather some momentum as bank profits start to return. But we are still waiting for the big investment banks to flex their muscles and initiate the levels of hiring needed to sustain the recovery.

"The last couple of years have seen the banks undergoing fundamental restructuring, and in most business areas they were more likely to downsize teams than to make plans to expand.

"In 2013 that shrinkage has slowed down. In both November and December the number of new roles has been better in comparison to the same month the previous year."

Additional reporting agencies