Recruitment agencies can be generally optimistic about the direction the new government has taken in its first 100 days in office, although now is the time for Whitehall to push on and take concrete action in the employment market.
That is the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's (REC) assessment of the coalition government's opening months in charge of the UK, during what has been a very difficult time for the economy.
Taking a look at the initial policy decisions being made by David Cameron and his cabinet – which is a mix of Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs – Kevin Green, chief executive of the REC said that it has the right intentions, but must follow up the talk with action.
Mr Green welcomed the decision to rule out the possibility of new licensing on the recruitment industry and the creation of "a level playing field" for different recruitment agencies in terms of travel and dispensation schemes.
However, he said: "The rhetoric about less bureaucracy sounds great but we have yet to see much action. Ensuring that the Agency Worker Regulations are workable will be a major test of the Government’s resolve."
"The government needs to be increasingly pro-active in boosting job creation in the private sector. Recent announcements on simplifying business taxation and cutting red tape have been well-received but there are question marks over whether the private sector can absorb expected job losses in the public sector."
Mr Green also welcomed the recent announcement of reviews on pensions reform, IR35 employment tax legislation and the Vetting and Barring Scheme, which is operated by the Independent Safeguarding Authority and dictates the criteria that potential employees must meet to be eligible to work with children or vulnerable adults.
The government's recent move to involve private recruitment agencies in the NHS Professionals scheme for flexible work placements in the public health service also suggests that it is willing to address many of the issues that the industry has faced since the beginning of the recession.
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