Unlike many other European staffing markets, the Norwegian recruitment industry got away lightly last year. The country was less impacted by the economic turmoil that has haunted much of Europe.

With an expected GDP growth rate of nearly 3% this year, Staffing Industry Analysts expects double-digit growth for the Norwegian staffing market in 2013.

And new data shows this Nordic staffing market posted +7.2% growth in 2012. In the last three months of the year, the staffing market grew by +5.7%. According to Norway’s National Federation of Service Industries (NHO), the construction industry reported strong growth while other areas struggled, including healthcare and IT.

Even Hagelien of the NHO is concerned that traditional staffing sectors such as healthcare could deteriorate further in the future. In the fourth quarter, the number of hours worked in this industry fell by -7.4%, compared to a -6.1% decline in IT and a -3.7% decrease in the administration sector. 

Norway recently introduced new European staffing regulations which guarantee equal treatment between temporary and permanent employees. The legislation also makes recruiters and their client companies jointly responsible for ensuring appropriate measures are in place.

The legislation had been a major concern to employers in the country, but Mr Hagelien said: “The uncertainty around the new rules has not had as great an impact on the industry's development in late 2012 as feared.”