In June, the agency work industry in Europe posted a +8.0% rise in hours worked, while at the same time, EU 27 unemployment levels in Europe changed by -2.1% when compared with the same period in 2010.

The sector has experienced fifteen months of continuous year on year growth with most recent data suggests that while the recovery is continuing, it is doing so at a slower pace than in previous months. Agency work increased by +20.3% in Italy compared with June 2010, while agency work grew by +12.8% in Belgium during the same period. 

Denis Pennel, Eurociett Managing Director stated “Recent months have seen the agency work industry’s recovery from the crisis slow down. This mirrors the most recent trends in unemployment levels and GDP growth across the EU 27.”

The year on year evolution of sales revenues in Belgium saw an increase of +17.6% in June 2011. Turnover also rose in France (+8.0%), and the Netherlands (+8%). Q2 turnover in Sweden was up +26% compared to the same period in 2010 while in the same period turnover in Poland and the Republic of Ireland rose by +17% and +13.7% respectively. The evolution of turnover displays a similar trend to hours worked with slowing growth for the industry.

In Q2 of 2011, Europe measured a year on year rise in hours worked by agency workers of +13.0%. In the same period the year on year growth rate of EU 27 GDP growth was +1.7%.