UK – Chancellor says IR35 reforms will be reviewed if Conservatives win election

Chanceller of the Exchequer Sajid Javid has vowed to review IR35 reforms in early 2020 as part of the Conservative Manifesto’s pledge to review how the UK government can support self-employed workers.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 programme Money Box Javid said, ““One thing in particular that I want to...

Belgium – Temporary agency workers’ hours fall in October: Federgon

The number of hours worked by temporary agency workers in Belgium in October 2019 fell by 4.81% when compared to the previous year, according to Federgon, the Belgian Federation of Staffing Agencies.

The decrease was due to the number of hours worked by temporary agency workers in the blue-collar sector...

Europe – EU28 October jobless rate remains lowest on record

The EU28 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.3% in October 2019 down from 6.7% in October 2018 and stable compared with the previous month, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

At the same time the euro area’s unemployment rate was 7.5% in October...

UK – Proportion of women in AI and data jobs hits 20-year low, research finds

A quarter of UK jobs in artificial intelligence and other specialist technology roles were filled by women this year, the lowest proportion in two decades, according to research from Datatech Analytics for professional network Women in Data.

The research showed that the percentage of women taking on positions...

UK – Work related stress causing burnout among nurses: Randstad

Nearly two thirds, or 63%, of nurses in the UK reported that work pressure was a significant factor negatively affecting their mental wellbeing while 50% say increasing work pressures were contributing to mental health conditions through place of work, according to a survey from Randstad UK.

Randstad’s...

Poland – Work Service revenue down but profits show improvement

Work Service Capital Group (WSE:WSE) the Polish staffing, RPO, and outsourcing company reported revenue of PLN 1.23 billion (€286.5 million) for the first nine months of 2019, a decrease of 21.0% compared with the same period last year.

Sweden – Hedera Group appoints CEO

Swedish recruitment services firm Hedera Group announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Johan Sandström as CEO of Hedera Group. 

Sandström will take up his position as CEO on 6 January 2020.

In May 2019 outgoing CEO Maria Nordin announced that she had resigned from her role but will remain...

UK – Recruiters not confident on umbrella compliance, APSCo finds

One in four, or 24%, of UK recruiters are not confident that the umbrella companies they partner with are compliant, despite the vast majority (92%) working with these type of business, according to new research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

A survey of the trade association’s...

UK – Energy firm Npower expected to cut 4,500 jobs (BBC News)

UK-based energy firm Npower is expected to cut up to 4,500 job cuts in the UK as part of a restructuring plan to make it more profitable, reports BBC News. Under the restructuring, Npower's owner Germany-based E.On will merge computer systems to save money. Unions have called the action a "cruel...

France – Temporary employment down 4.5% in October: Prism’Emploi

The number of temporary workers in France fell by 4.5% year-over-year in October 2019, according to the latest Barometer report by Prism’Emploi, the French association of employment agencies.

Since the start of the year, the number of temporary workers in France have seen an average decline rate of...