Current News

New EU research confirms crucial role of agency work

The report entitled ‘More Work Opportunities for More People’ was developed by the research company Bain in conjunction with Eurociett – the representative body for the recruitment industry across Europe. 

Key findings include the fact that the private employment agency industry is expected to create more than 2.1 million new jobs in Europe by 2012 through structural growth and the lifting of unnecessary restrictions on the use of agency work. 

Commenting on the launch of the report, Tom Hadley, the REC's Director of External Relations and a member of the Eurociett Board, says: “The report could not have come at a better time, with next week’s crucial Employment Council meeting in Brussels due to discuss regulation on the recruitment industry in Europe and the proposed EU Agency Workers Directive which has remained blocked since 2002.  

“The findings from the research underline the crucial importance of ensuring that any agreement on the Directive enhances rather than hinders the effective provision of temporary work services across Europe”.     

The report provides numerous case studies and data from across Europe and underlines the role that temporary agency work plays in enhancing access to the labour market for excluded or underrepresented groups.

Out of the extra 570,000 new jobs to be created if restrictions are lifted, 37 per cent would be filled by young people, 15 per cent by long-term unemployed and six per cent by older workers.  

Commenting on the findings, Eurociett President Annemarie Muntz says: “The report demonstrates that private employment agencies are more than ever ready to bring into the EU debate proposals for modern, efficient and more inclusive labour markets. 

“Private employment agencies should be recognised as key players to reach the Lisbon employment objectives, and given credit for increasing labour market participation and diversity. Therefore, outdated and unjustified restrictions to the provision of services by private employment agencies should be reviewed and lifted.” 

Specific findings include the fact that: 

Private employment agencies are already an engine for job creation, currently employing 3.3 million agency workers (full time equivalent) across Europe. Continued structural growth will raise this by 1.6 million to reach 4.98 million jobs by 2012.

In addition to these 1.6 million new jobs, the report shows that the industry can create a further 570,000 extra jobs if two specific restrictions on temporary agency work are lifted in just 6 key EU countries sectoral bans (for instance, the use of agency work is not accepted in the Public Sector in Belgium, France and Spain and in the construction sector in Germany and Spain) and limitation of reasons of use (e.g. in Belgium, the use of temporary agency work is restricted to 3 justifications defined by law). 

Entitled “More work opportunities for more people”, the report is based on comprehensive research, including

Extensive data gathering at European level with numerous case studies from the six main countries researched.

20 interviews of key industry stakeholders and experts worldwide.

In March and April 2007, 65 leading ‘names’ associated with the industry participated in an online survey assessing perceptions of temporary agency work.

Comparative data and case studies from the six largest European markets: France, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Spain (jointly accounted for approximately 85% of the EU-27 agency work market in 2006.)         

Comparisons between the US and Japan and numerous case studies from other EU member states. 

For more information on Eurociett, go to www.euro-ciett.org.