The World Employment Confederation — which represents the staffing industry on a global level — in a report released yesterday estimated revenue for the global employment industry revenue rose 13% in 2017 to €457 billion (US$547 billion).

The World Employment Confederation figure exceeds Staffing Industry Analysts’ estimate of US$461 billion for the staffing market in 2017; however, the methodology used by the organisations is slightly different. While the World Employment Confederation measures the “employment industry,” SIA defines “staffing” revenue as revenue generated from the provision of temporary workers to business clients, as well as from “place and search” services (direct hire/permanent placement and retained search).

With global sales revenue of €275 billion (US$329.4 billion), agency work represented 60% of the global employment market sales in 2017 and grew by 7% year over year, according to the World Employment Confederation. The management service provider sector, the second-largest segment of the private employment industry, grew by 10% during 2017 for total revenue of €116 billion (US$139 billion).

Recruitment process outsourcing global revenue rose more than 16% year over year to nearly €3 billion (US$3.6 billion).

The World Employment Confederation report is available online.