Skilled Group Ltd., the largest Australian staffing firm, reported revenue fell 20.9% to AUS$844.5 million (US$754.1 million) in the first half of its fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2009, from AUS$1.07 billion the first half of the previous year.

Profit from continuing operations fell 79.0% to AUS$4.5 million (US$4.0 million).

Comparing the first half of the present fiscal year to the second half of the previous fiscal year, revenue was down 3.6%.

"The Australian economy is in the early stages of its recovery and while Skilled has been benefiting from this in many parts of our business, others are still to respond," the company reported. "All the signs indicate that the economic recovery will continue and broaden to sectors of the economy that have yet to begin the rebuilding process."

Skilled Group ranked No. 24 on Staffing Industry Analysts' 2009 list of largest global staffing firms.