Hays plc, the UK-based global staffing provider, reported gross profit remained impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in its fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30, falling by 29% year over year on a like-for-like basis, which represents change based on organic growth of continuing operations and at constant currency.

Gross profit fell by 23% in the US on a like-for-like basis, and gross profit in Canada fell by 34%.

“The pandemic continues to significantly impact our markets, although encouragingly, our temp business remains stable and we have seen improvements in perm, particularly in markets that had previously been hardest-hit by lockdowns,” Chief Executive Alistair Cox said.

Gross profit percent change for fiscal Q1

Cox noted that Australia and New Zealand remained resilient and Germany was stable. The Americas as a whole remained stable. Countries with previously stringent lockdowns — such as the UK, France and Spain — saw improvement.

The company decreased headcount by 17% year over year, although it expects headcount to be flat in the fiscal second quarter.