Technical recruitment firm Matchtec is seeing some signs of improved confidence in the sectors it serves.Permanent placement levels have held relatively steady over the last six months while the number of contractors on assignment is now 6% higher than it was at the end of July.Despite the encouraging signs of increased confidence among some of its customers, the company believes it is too soon to identify any clear trends in terms of the effect it will have on Matchtec’s activity levels.Trading in the three months to 31 October has been in line with the board’s expectations and, notwithstanding the limited visibility regarding future trends, the outlook for the current financial year to 31 July remains unchanged from the forecast made at the time its full year results were released on 8 October.