Employment agencies

The Business & Industry Guides series is produced by the Library & Information Service for ICAEW members and ACA students.

We can compile tailored key players reports, mailing lists, market reports, benchmarking reports and industry news. Our enquiry team can also research other industry-specific information, such as taxation, for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

Online articles

The library provides full access to articles from leading business, finance and management journals.

• View the latest updates on trends and forecasts in the employment agency sector

Access to articles is provided subject to suppliers’ terms of use.

Croner-i Business Focus

Business Focus is a resource that provides Industry Snaphots for a range of sectors. These contain an overview of developments, trends and statistics for the industry together with an outlook for the future. Sectors covered include Recruitment

To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Industry profiles and SWOT analyses

Industry profiles give an overview of market size in different countries or regions, the competitive landscape and provide a forecast of market performance. These profiles are available exclusively for ICAEW members and ACA students through the Library & Information Service. 

• All markets
• Global
• United States

If you’re looking for industry profiles for regions or countries not listed above, please contact the Library on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or email library@icaew.com.

SWOT analyses examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for major companies operating in this sector are available.

• View the latest SWOT analysis reports

If you experience any problems accessing these resources, please see our online resources troubleshooting FAQ.

Other market research specialists

Market research reports focusing on this business sector are available from a number of market research specialists. In most cases these reports are available to fee-paying subscribers or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Euromonitor
A full listing of reference products and research reports for the recruitment agencies sector from Euromonitor, with a range of global, country and company level reports. Each report provides a contents listing and a useful executive summary reporting on the key trends in each country report.

IBISWorld
Business and industry research specialists offering reports on a wide range of sectors, including temporary employment placement agencies. Report snapshots, table of contents and a sample report are available. The company also produces global industry research reports.

Mintel
Report from Mintel covering the UK recruitment market. The website includes a summary and the option to view a contents listing.

Need to find the latest news on this industry sector? We can carry out industry news searches using a range of trade titles and general business sources through our databases. To discuss your requirements, please contact the enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

Office for National Statistics

The Annual Business Survey (ABS) from the Office for National Statistics collects financial information covering UK production, construction, distribution and service industries. Statistics available include:

• number of enterprises;
• total turnover;
• approximate gross value added at basic prices;
• total purchases of goods, materials and services;
• total employment – average during the year;
• total employment costs;
• total net capital expenditure;
• total net capital expenditure – acquisitions;
• total net capital expenditure – disposals;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at end of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – value at beginning of year;
• total stocks and work in progress – increase during year.

The dataset Non-financial business economy, UK: Sections A to S includes statistics for:

• Activities of employment placement agencies (78.10)
  See Section N: Administrative and support service activities
• Temporary employment agency activities (78.20)
  See Section N: Administrative and support service activities

Eurostat

Eurostat, the EU statistics hub, collates detailed Structural Business Statistics giving the latest figures for industry, construction, trade and services by sector and country. The indicators available include:

• number of enterprises
• turnover or gross premiums written
• production value
• value added at factor cost
• gross operating surplus
• wages and salaries
• social security costs
• gross investment in tangible goods
• gross investment in land
• gross investment in existing buildings and structures
• gross investment in construction and alteration of buildings
• gross investment in machinery and equipment
• number of employees
• number of persons employed per enterprise.

Statistics within the database are available for:

• Activities of employment placement agencies (N7810)
  See database section ‘SBS – services’
• Temporary employment agency activities (N7820)
  See database section ‘SBS – services’

World Employment Confederation-Europe

World Employment Confederation-Europe provides data on private employment agencies in Europe. It compiles a monthly Agency Work Business Indicator which gives figures on separate countries and Europe as a region for:

• number of hours worked by agency workers
• agency work sales revenues
• correlation between hours worked with unemployment and GDP statistics.

American Staffing Association

The American Staffing Association provides a variety of staffing statistics and surveys covering:

• economic analysis
• staffing index
• employment and sales
• clients
• industry compensation
• sector benchmarking
• employee turnover.

Japan Staffing Services Association

The Japan Staffing Services Association provides quarterly statistics on the agency workforce in Japan and an annual Databook with comprehensive figures and analysis. The reports are available in Japanese only; however, some basic data is provided in English.

Recruitment and Consulting Services Association

The Recruitment and Consulting Services Association of Australia and New Zealand compiles links to the latest research and industry statistics from national and international sources.

Ciett

Ciett publishes an annual report, The agency work industry around the world, providing data by country on:

• number of private employment agencies
• number of branches
• internal staff employed
• top 10 companies by revenue
• global annual revenues
• sales
• comparison of markets
• number of agency workers
• penetration rates
• average hours worked by agency workers
• average length of agency work assignments
• demographics of agency workers (including gender, age and education)
• sectoral distribution of agency workers
• companies employing temporary agency workers.

UK

Average employment costs within this sector are available from Table 14 of the Office for National Statistics publication Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Average employment costs are provided for full-time employees, part-time employees and all employees.

The data includes average employment costs for:

• personnel, training and industrial relations managers;
• personnel and industrial relations officers.

Other regions

Please see individual country profile pages for links to sources of national statistics.

UK

Gov.uk provides practical advice for businesses. Part of its service covers guidance on the main legislation applicable to various sectors, including employment agencies and employment businesses.

Brexit

Government guidance and reports on the impact of Brexit on employment agencies.

Beyond Brexit: trade in services  
House of Lords select committee March 2021 report on the future UK-EU relationship on trade in services. Considers the crucial elements in the TCA affecting trade in services between the UK and the EU, together with areas where further agreement is required. Sectors covered: financial services; professional and business services; data and digital trade; the creative industries; research and education.

Keep your business moving: Video explainers on new rules for doing business with EU
Suite of on-demand short videos from the UK government for businesses on importing, exporting, rules of origin, tariffs, providing services to EU markets, Northern Ireland, data handling, hiring staff, and selling goods.

Croner-i Business Focus

Business Focus is a resource that provides practical information on many small business trades and sectors. Its Business Opportunity Profiles offer detailed insights into market conditions, legal issues and the trading environment for a range of businesses. They include:

• Executive search consultant
• Nursing agency
• Recruitment agency
• Temping agency

To find out more about Business Focus, please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com.

Atom Content Marketing guides

The Start Up Donut from Atom Content Marketing provides practical information on starting up and running a number of small business types. Guides cover a range of areas including market research, current trends, regulations, products and services, promotion and pricing. They include:

• Staff agency

We can produce reports on this sector using selected information from the FAME company database. Reports are available for:

• Activities of employment placement agencies
  UK SIC (2007) Code 78.10
• Temporary employment placement agency activities
  UK SIC (2007) Code 78.20

Summaries of the three types of report we can produce are given below. You can find further information, a sample report, pricing details and an online order form on our industry sector reports page.

We also operate a bespoke reports service with results tailored to your specifications. Please contact our enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com to discuss your requirements.

Key players report

Our key players report looks at the top companies (by turnover) in any one of the segments within this sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures. The reports provide data on 11 comparative fields for the last available year, including:

• turnover;
• profit margins;
• returns on shareholder funds;
• solvency ratios
• number of employees.

Our reports enable easy comparison of the top companies in this sector against each other and against the sector median, average and standard deviation in each of the 11 fields.

Mailing list

A separate mailing list report is also available with address and contact details for the top companies in any of the segments within this sector.

Market reports

Our market reports look at the aggregated data for the top companies (by turnover) for any of the segments within this sector across all the fields usually found in a company report. The reports include data for the last 10 years* and enables easy comparison of trends for the whole sector. Reports usually include the top 100 companies but in more specialised sectors with fewer than 100 companies we show all companies with disclosed figures.

*Please note the number of companies for which data is aggregated will vary for any given year.

The market reports include sections on:

• key financials and employees;
• profit and loss account;
• balance sheet;
• cash flow statement;
• financial ratios;
• financial trends and changes;
• profitability trends and changes.

We offer benchmarking reports that can be used to inform your own business strategy or help you identify value-added services to offer to your clients.

Contact the enquiry team directly on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com for a report tailored to your own specific requirements.

Trade journals, B2B magazines and specialist consumer magazines are another useful source of news and statistics.

• HRO Today
• Recruiter
• Staffing Industry Review

The websites of trade bodies in this sector are a useful source of industry overviews, contacts and statistics.

UK

• Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo)
• Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC)
• Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)

Europe

• Bundesarbeitgeberverband der Personaldienstleister (BAP) (Germany)
• National Recruitment Federation (NRF) (Ireland)
• World Employment Confederation-Europe

Africa

• Federation of African Professional Staffing Organisations (APSO) (South Africa)

Americas

• Acsess: Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services
• Asociación Gremial de Empresas de Administración y Externalización de Recursos Humanos (AGEST) (Chile)
• American Staffing Association (ASA)
• Federación Argentina de Empresas de Trabajo Temporario (FAETT)

Asia

• Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) (AEAS)
• Japan Staffing Service Association (JASSA)
• KOSA (Korea)

Oceania

• Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) (Australia and New Zealand)

Global

• World Employment Confederation: International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies

World Employment Confederation provides a list of member organisations which features many major national professional bodies in the employment sector.

Recruitment and training industry guide: British Library
British Library industry guides provide listings of resources for industry-specific information, including print directories and materials held by the British Library.

Contact the British Library Business and IP Centre for more information.

Articles and books in the Library collection

• View a list of articles and books in our collection on employment agencies and agency workers

To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans. You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post or email through our document supply service.