ISBN 1-85765-842-6

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Market Definition

DEFINITION

MARKET SECTORS

RECRUITMENT SECTORS

Market Size

THE TOTAL MARKET

Table 4: Estimated Number of Employment Agency Businesses and Branches and their Turnover in the UK (number and £bn), 1990-1997

Industry Background

THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ACT 1973

A FRAGMENTED INDUSTRY

EMPLOYMENT

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Competitor Analysis

THE MARKETPLACE

MARKET LEADERS

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Table 5: Selected Leading UK Employment Agencies by Turnover (£m), 1996/1998

Table 6: Selected UK Employment Agencies with Overseas Parent Companies, 1998

Table 7: Main Media Advertising Expenditure by Recruitment Agencies (£000), Years Ending March 1996, 1997 and 1998

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Buying Behaviour

CLIENT LOYALTY

JOB SEEKERS

FREQUENCY OF USE

CURRICULUM VITAE AND INTERVIEWS

EMPLOYER OPINION

Outside Suppliers to the Industry

RECRUITMENT TO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

MARKET SECTORS

Current Issues

SKILLS SHORTAGES

GROWING DEMAND FOR IT STAFF

REGULATIONS

Forecasts

STAFF SHORTAGES

FEES

FORECASTS 1998 TO 2000

FLEXIBLE WORKING

EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

Table 8: Forecast of UK Employment Agencies' Turnover (£bn at 1998 prices), 1998-2000

Table 9: Forecast Employment Trends, 1998

Company Profiles

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONS

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Sources

ASSOCIATIONS

PERIODICALS

DIRECTORIES

GENERAL SOURCES

HBI UK INFORMATION SOURCES

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

OTHER SOURCES

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Key Note estimates that at the end of 1997, the core employment agency industry comprised around 8,200 businesses, which together operated 11,800 offices or branches. Their combined turnover for 1997 was £11.9bn, up from £10.2bn in 1996, although some industry estimates are higher. 94 percent of turnover was derived from invoiced sales for placing temporary and contract workers. The remainder came from fees charged for placing permanent workers.

The employment agency business has boomed since 1993 and reached unprecedented heights in 1997. Most firms enjoyed a bonanza in sales and profits. However, at mid-1998, there are indications that the global boom is over. Growth in some recruitment sectors has been reduced to a trickle and in others, it has reversed into a decline.

Nevertheless, even if the economy returns to recession by the end of 1998, employers will continue to experience a shortage of good, qualified personnel at all levels. This will ensure the industry against a sudden decline in business.

While the industry continues to be regulated with lenience, external threats from political and legal sources are growing. The costs of making a mistake in the recruitment process, even unwittingly, can be fatal. Agency managements are having to devote increasingly more time to ensuring that they remain on the right side of legislation.

The industry remains highly fragmented, although consolidation proceeds apace. In particular, major US agencies are showing growing interest in making acquisitions in the UK.

However, the UK market also remains oversupplied by a large and still growing number of employment agency branches. A downturn will mean office closures and competition on price.

Key Note estimates that, between 1998 and 2000, total turnover of UK employment agencies will increase by 6.9 percent to reach £14bn.

Text © 1998 Key Note

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