In 2011, the global agency work industry continued in its recovery from the economic downturn that started in the USA in 2007, and quickly spread to the rest of the world. The return to growth was witnessed in most countries which report activity of private employment services, however growth was stronger in some countries than in others and available information from 2012 suggests a downward trend for the industry in Europe, in line with changes witnessed in GDP. 46 million people worked as agency workers in 2011, equivalent to 12.4 million full time jobs¹.

 

In parallel, global total annual sales revenues amounted to €259 billion². This report provides information on the latest industry trends witnessed in 2012 as well as a more comprehensive picture of the agency work industry in 2011 around the world. Where most markets witnessed growth throughout 2011, the industry in Europe began to decline in the first quarter of 2012 and continued to decline in Japan. The industry in the United States, the single largest market for agency work worldwide, continued to see positive growth throughout 2011 and 2012.

Some key figures on the industry:

• There are 140,000 private employment agencies³ and 179,000 branches⁴ worldwide, employing 863,000 internal staff

 

• The total annual sales revenues of the top 10 private employment agencies worldwide accounted for 30% of the total agency work market

 

• The global total annual sales revenues amounted to €259 billion⁵

 

• The USA has the largest market share of the industry, with 23% of total annual sales. Japan represents 17% of the global agency work market, followed by the UK at 11%

 

• Europe is the leading regional entity by total annual sales revenues, accounting for 41% of global total annual sales revenues

 

Agency workers in numbers

• 12.4 million agency workers in full-time equivalents were employed by private employment agencies across the globe⁶

 

• The agency work penetration rate is 1.5% in Japan, 1.6% in Europe⁷ and 1.8% in the USA

 

• On average agency workers work around half the number of hours as full-time permanent employees⁸

 

• Most agency work assignments are more than one month long

 

The profile of agency workers

 

• 57% of agency workers in Europe are aged less than 30⁹

 

• 77% agency workers have at best finished their secondary education¹⁰

 

• Agency workers are employed in a wide range of sectors represented most strongly in services and manufacturing

 

^1. based on data from 43 countries

^2. based on data from 42 countries

^3. based on data from 39 countries

^4. based on data from 30 countries

^5. based on data from 43 countries

^6. based on data from 42 countries

^7. based on data from 29 countries. If Russia is included in calculations, penetration rate for Europe would be 1.2%

^8. based on data from 31 countries

^9. based on data from 24 countries

^10. based on data from 22 countries