Germany - Business confidence falls, according to index

Business confidence in Germany fell in August, according to the Ifo Business Climate index. The index declined to a reading of 106.2 in august from a reading of 108.3 in July.

“The German economy has fallen into a summer slump,” according to the report. “In manufacturing, the index has fallen again....

UK - Staffline acquires Northern Ireland training and recruitment firm

Staffline Ireland acquired Hugh J. O’Boyle Training in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, The Irish News reported this week. In its Twitter feed, Staffline said the acquisition is the third of the year and it is now the second-largest employer in Northern Ireland.

“We are dedicated to empowering people,...

Europe - Court rules on applying for jobs when sole purpose is to file legal claim (Lexology)

The European Court of Justice ruled in a German lawsuit that individuals are not entitled to claim legal protection or compensation if they apply for a job with the sole intention of making themselves eligible to file a claim for compensation or discrimination, Clare Sample of law firm Bond Dickinson...

Europe - EU aims to help workers, curb populism (The Wall Street Journal)

The EU is planning an initiative to help workers by offering retraining, ensuring part-time work and making sure contract workers aren’t exploited, The Wall Street Journal reports. However, the proposal has drawn concerns from businesses. “My biggest worry is that you promise things you cannot deliver,”...

Ireland – Weak earnings rise in year to Q2 2016

Average weekly earnings in Ireland were €703.83 in Q2 2016, a rise of 0.5% from €700.66 one year earlier according to preliminary estimates of the Earnings and Labour Costs Quarterly release from the Central Statistics Office.

The data also showed that average hourly earnings increased by 0.2% between...

France – Leaders say unemployment rate is ‘going in the right direction’

French President François Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls have both welcomed July’s unemployment figures, which fell below 10% for the first time since 2012, reports RFI.

Valls said that the unemployment figures are going "in the right direction", after employment agency figures...

Sweden –Tech companies help place technically skilled asylum seekers in jobs

Startups, consultants and global tech businesses in Sweden and Finland are cataloging migrants' skills and education, training them, setting up internships and placing refugees in jobs, reports CNET.

Sync Accelerator, a Stockholm-based recruiting agency, is one such agency, founded by Johan Engstrom,...

Europe – 2016 Europe Staffing 100

Staffing Industry Analysts’ new list of the 100 most influential people in the European staffing industry is now online.

This year’s list represents the third time that Staffing Industry Analysts has compiled a list of those who have helped shape the €369 billion European staffing market....

Netherlands – Monster Worldwide disputes MediaNews claims against Randstad takeover

Monster Worldwide Inc. affirmed its support for a $429 million sale to Randstad Holding NV and criticised MediaNews Group Inc.'s opposition to the deal.

Monster said MediaNews has made "flawed and uninformed assumptions" and said the US-based newspaper operator ‘has never discussed,...

Sweden – Number of permanent employees grow in July, unemployment rate falls

The unemployment rate in Sweden was 6.3% in July compared with 6.5% for the same period last year, according to Statistics Sweden's Labour Force Survey (LFS).

The survey also showed that the number of permanent employees increased by 72,000 in July compared to the previous year. The number of temporary...