Germany – Labour costs rise in Q1

Labour costs in Germany grew in the three months ending in March 2016, according to figures from the Federal Statistical Office Destatis.

Labour costs per hour worked consisting of gross earnings and non-wage costs increased on a calendar-adjusted basis by 3.1% yearly in the first quarter, more than the...

UK – Businesses turn to short term contract solutions due to Brexit uncertainty

A quarter of businesses have been driven to short term contract solutions due to uncertainty surrounding the upcoming EU Referendum, according to Randstad UK.

Randstad UK recently polled 340 professionals around the impact of the impending EU referendum on hiring decisions currently felt by the UK. The...

EU – Number of hours worked by agency workers rises

Eurociett, the European confederation of private employment services, has published its latest European Agency Work Business Indicator for May, which shows average year-on- year growth of +2.5% in the number of hours worked by Europe’s agency workers.

The report shows that Poland and the Netherlands...

Ireland – Number of professional job vacancies falls in May

The Morgan McKinley Irish Employment Monitor registered a decrease of 9% in overall professional jobs coming into the market for the month of May compared to the same period last year.

When compared to April 2016, the employment monitor showed that the availability of professional job opportunities in...

UK – ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ culture could put off potential employees

UK businesses that encourage a ‘work hard play hard’ culture in the workplace could be unwittingly alienating potential employees, according to inclusive talent management solutions provider the Clear Company.

The Clear Company has called on senior executives to review the impact that the ‘work...

Europe – SIA volunteers donate funds and organise an employability workshop as part of first European Crain Cares Initiative

Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) organised its first ever European Crain Cares Initiative at the Bromley by Bow Centre (BBBC) in East London on June 7, donating funds and setting up an employability workshop with practical CV reviews, mock interviews and feedback sessions for unemployed jobseekers.

SIA...

Scotland – NHS spends £23 million on agency staff (Scotsman)

NHS expenditure on agency staff in Scotland has soared to £23 million in 2015-2016, reports the Scotsman. An increase of 45% when compared to the previous year. Despite the increase of agency staff use, the number of staff working in NHS Scotland has reached a record high.

Scottish Conservatives have...

UK – Businesses face candidate shortages ahead of EU Referendum

Permanent staff placements in the UK continued to rise in May but at their slowest rate in eight months amid uncertainty due to the EU Referendum, according to the latest Markit/REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) Report on Jobs.

The report shows that there were further reductions in staff...

UK – Staffing agencies under fire as Sports Direct founder is grilled by MP’s

Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has admitted that he had paid workers below minimum wage and has also criticised the use of zero-hours contracts during a Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, chaired by Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.

The company was at the centre of controversy last year following...

Netherlands – Government spent €1.1 billion on external consultants and temps in 2015

The Dutch government spent €1.1 billion last year in hiring external consultants, temporary staff and interim managers, according to Consultancy.uk.

Nearly 60% of the €1.1 billion in spending went to temporary staffing, while the rest went to technology specialists and consulting firms.

The 2015 spend...