More Beijing workers are looking to switch jobs now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008, according to a report released over the holiday weekend.

Official statistics for the first quarter of 2011 show labor agencies witnessed a 39.4-percent increase in registrations - 623,772 - compared to the same period last year.

Published by the capital's bureau of human resource and social security, a survey for the report found the majority of people behind the surge are workers already employed who are looking for fresh pastures, with the proportion rising by 11,712 on 2010 levels. It is the largest shift seen in one quarter since the economic meltdown three years ago.

The research suggests the trend is a result of economic recovery, with many of those too afraid to consider jumping ship in 2008 now re-evaluating their career paths thanks to an increase in opportunities.

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Beijing's labor market had 1.07 million vacancies in the first three months of this year, says the report, 13,777 more than at the same time in 2010, representing a 5.21-percent rise.

"I want to find a new job with more chances to develop. I've worked in this company for three years," said a 25-year-old worker at a PR company who asked to be identified only as Hou.

She explained she had planned to quit for a while but was put off by the slump in the market.

However, after recently receiving a call from a headhunter, Hou has decided to go for it. "Maybe it will be an opportunity for me," she added.

Demand in the real estate industry has seen the highest increase, with 13,141 vacancies listed in the first quarter, up from 9,035 vacancies in the last three months of last year.

The report's authors suggest firms are looking to make up the numbers following an exodus from the sector due to a slump in the housing market.

The areas where companies need workers the most remains at the unskilled level, mainly manual labor, sales, restaurant staff and security guards.

The city is short of 26,594 laborers, while just 7,548 applied to fill the 27,645 vacancies for sales people, according to the report.

The capital has an oversupply of accountants, industrial engineers, computer engineers, environmental protection engineers and administration staff, the report adds.