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Netherlands – Medical sector drags temporary billings down

April 17, 2012

The amount of temporary hours worked in the Netherlands decreased by -4% year-on-year in March (weeks 9 – 12), reports the Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU) today. Staffing industry turnover in the period also shrank by -2% from a year ago and this period had an equal amount of workable days compared to last year and no correction was applied.

The medical sector was particularly impacted by this downward trend as the amount of hours dropped -14% and turnover decreased by -11%. However, the administrative sector performed better with hours reduced by -1% and turnover actually increased by +1% when compared to a year ago.

The other sectors monitored by ABU also showed a decline. Hours in the industrial sector decreased by -6% and turnover by -5%. In the technical sector, the amount of worked hours dropped -2% while turnover was -1% below last year’s results.

The latest findings follow on from the February report when temporary hours and revenue were also down.

The Netherlands is the fourth largest staffing market in Europe, but has recently been troubled by the economic downturn. Forecasts for the staffing sector predict a decline for the market and, so far, the first quarter of 2012 has shown a broad drop in temporary billings.