UK – Permanent staff placements increase in April, but at slowest pace this year, REC says

The number of people placed in permanent jobs by recruitment consultancies across the UK continued to rise markedly in April, but expansion pace was still the weakest so far this year, according to the latest Report on Jobs from IHS Markit and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

In contrast,...

UK – Group calls for tax-free training options for self-employed, responds to Intergenerational Commission

The UK government should extend tax-free training options to the self-employed, IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, said in a statement today. The group was responding to a report by the Intergenerational Commission, which found that younger people are more likely...

Portugal – Strengthen adult-learning system to combat skills divide, OECD report says

With a rapidly aging population and a growing skills divide between generations, Portugal needs to further strengthen its adult-learning system, according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Portugal’s investments in education and skills in recent decades...

UK – Gig economy firm raises pay, drops fine for missing work (The Guardian)

The Guardian reported British parcel delivery firm DPD, which operates in the gig economy due to its reliance on self-employed workers, will pay a guaranteed minimum wage of £8.75 an hour and drop its £150 daily penalties for missing work. The change is part of reforms following the death...

World – The Adecco Group Q1 revenue up 6% but profits under pressure

The Adecco Group ((ADEN:VTX), reported revenue growth of 6% to €5,692 million in Q1 2018 compared to the prior year quarter, organically and trading days adjusted. This is a slight slowdown from the 7% growth achieved in Q4 2017 with deceleration in North America, UK & Ireland General Staffing...

France – Number of temporary workers up 10% in March, Prism’Emploi reports

The number of temporary workers in France rose by 10.4% year over year in March, according to the Barometer report by Prism’Emploi, the French association of employment agencies.

Numbers of temps are rising in all regions, but the biggest gains are in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, up 16.2%, and in Center-Val...

UK – RSA Group CEO steps down, executive chairman to take over

The RSA Group, a global life sciences executive search firm, announced Alex Bennett will leave his post as CEO to pursue new challenges. Executive Chairman Nick Stephens will take over the running of the business.

Stephens currently leads RSA’s board services practice. A director of the RSA Group since...

Italy – Study finds 592,000 occasional workers in 2017

A new study by the CGIA found that 592,000 people in Italy last year worked for less than 10 hours per week, up 20.3% from 2007.

Of those who worked less than 10 hours per week, 389,000 were employees and 203,000 were self-employed.

However, the majority of people in Italy who worked for less than 10 hours...

France – Court orders third trial for recruitment firm over €300,000 fine (Le Figaro, AFP)

French employment agency Crit Intérim will face a third trial regarding a €300,000 fine over the handling of work contracts, according to media reports in Le Figaro and AFP. The Court of Cassation ordered the third trial last Thursday. According to reports, the incidents took place between 2003 and...

Netherlands - Brunel achieves strong growth in Q1 2018

Brunel (BRNL: NA), the global energy staffing firm grew revenue by 11% on a like-for-like basis to EUR 214 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the prior-year quarter. EBIT also grew strongly by 26% to EUR 7.2 million despite an adverse working day effect in The Netherlands and DACH region....