Survey shines ray of hope for employment

Over 100,000 Jobs Secured by Recruitment Agencies

The recruitment industry has heralded a thriving sector and an overall confidence in employment opportunities ahead despite reports of job losses and economic slowdown forecasts. The results of the National Recruitment Federations Annual Survey were announced at its AGM on Tuesday, 11th September 2007 at The Alexander Hotel. The survey, which was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research, once again recorded a flourishing industry with an estimated turnover in 2006 of €1.62 Billion (up from €1.3 Billion in 2004) with over 5.3% of the population securing jobs through recruitment agencies in 2006 (up from 4.8% in 2004). Both jobseekers and employers are increasingly using recruitment agencies as a means to secure jobs and fill job vacancies respectively with almost one-third of all jobs being secured through recruitment agencies.

Based on information gleaned from agencies throughout the country, the results revealed 21% increase in industry growth which is faster than the growth of the economy. Similarly, there was a dramatic increase in permanent placements from 85,000 in 2004 to just under 110,000 in 2006 (some 300 jobs per day) indicating a rise of 36% of jobs filled within the industry 65% of all agencies recorded more than 11 people within their agencies securing permanent jobs through initially temporary vacancies, thereby confirming the importance of temporary jobs as a means of securing permanent employment. 35% of agencies declared the average length of a temporary contract to be over 5 months long, which highlights a genuine need for legislative amendments to allow the current limit to remain or indeed increase.

The survey also revealed a clear change in the shape of the industry. It remains predominantly Irish owned (85%), however the number of foreign agencies with branches in Ireland has increased. A greater concentration of agencies with just 1 office indicates rising numbers of agencies embracing technology as a means of conducting business throughout the country. Employment rewards are now leaning more towards pension funds, car allowances and flexible work hours as opposed to drinks at the pub, also indicating more modern work practices in general.

Though the number of direct jobs available within the industry has decreased from 9,900 in 2005 to 700 in 2007 (indicating an understanding that the industry is not growing as fast as before), there are currently an estimated 12,950 people employed in the industry clearly affirming the recruitment industries status as a vital cog in the employment machine in Ireland.

Said Frank Collins, NRF President, “The forecast for the economy of late has understandably planted a seed of doubt on employment throughout the country, however our survey has indicated a shining light of hope with overall growth in jobs filled, numbers employed within the industry and most importantly a 95% sense of confidence in the future within the industry professionals. The results speak for themselves in proving the services of a recruitment agency as the best way of matching the right person to the right job.”