The firm highlighted construction as a drag on its performance  in an interim management statement to the City today.

Things were even worse in the private sector with a 14% fall in fees.

Hays said: “In the United Kingdom & Ireland, net fees decreased by 9%.

“In our private sector business, net fees decreased by 14% as market conditions remained very difficult overall, especially in our Banking and City-related and Construction & Property specialisms.”

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