"With Brexit finally out of the way, it's clear that businesses felt comfortable enough to invest in their hiring strategies once again, with our own data also revealing that job vacancies and salaries grew in January 2020.
"However, while this would normally paint a positive picture, we have yet to understand the full effects of COVID-19 on the UK job market and our research shows that 62.2% of employers are worried about its impact on their hiring efforts. It is obviously important that businesses try to operate as normal, but the health and safety of employees should be paramount at this trying time.
"Unfortunately, coronavirus is likely to incur a significant cost to businesses across the country, particularly those in the hospitality or entertainment industries. As a result, it's likely that companies will baton down the hatches in the coming months and put the brakes on hiring until the worst of the outbreak has passed."
