The average pay for professional and management roles in Hertfordshire is now £46,758, according to the annual salary survey of recruiters Cooper Lomaz.

But the research also found that as business confidence returns, the county’s employers are battling to fill well-paying posts – with the number of candidates looking for work failing to keep pace with vacancies.

Reflecting on the findings of Cooper Lomaz survey, operations director Mark Fletcher said: "There are clear signs that the jobs market is moving well again now."