Hays achieved a healthy 22 per cent rise in interim pre-tax profits to £122.7m as the recruitment group benefited from the twin effects of international expansion and people shifting jobs more frequently.

However, Hays shares fell on Tuesday over fears of growing weakness in its core UK market. The stock, which gained 9 per cent on Monday, closed down 5¾p, or 5 per cent, at 110¼p on Tuesday.