UK – Talent shortage driving up wages, permanent placements on the rise

Permanent starting salaries continued to rise across the UK in December amid reports of candidate shortages and robust demand for staff, according to data from the latest IHS Markit/Recruitment and Employment Confederation Report on Jobs.

The report also found that the availability of candidates to fulfil...

Europe – Euro area unemployment reaches lowest level since 2009

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.7% in November 2017, down from 9.8% in November 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since January 2009, according to figures from Eurostat, the statistical body of the European Union.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.3%...

Switzerland – Job Market looks to be optimistic in 2018, finds PageGroup

The Swiss Job Index and the Confidence Index of PageGroup has provided an optimistic outlook for the Swiss job market in 2018.

“With strong growth across so many sectors there is every reason to be positive about the demand for specialists in 2018”, Jérôme Bouin, Managing Director of PageGroup Switzerland,...

UK – Human rights watchdog to write to BBC over gender pay gap (BBC)

The BBC is facing a possible investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over the treatment of its China editor who resigned citing a “secretive and illegal pay culture” and alleged “unlawful pay discrimination”, reports BBC News. The EHRC said it was writing to the BBC to find...

UK – Geometric Results acquiring MSP firm de Poel Group

Managed service provider Geometric Results is acquiring UK-based MSP de Poel Group in a deal announced Friday.

De Poel serves more than 120 private and public-sector clients through its vendor-neutral MSP programs supported by its own technology platform. It coordinates with more than 1,500 recruitment...

UK – Labour productivity rises to six-year high

Labour productivity in the UK, as measured by output per hour, grew by 0.9% in the third-quarter of 2017 ended September when compared with the previous quarter, according to new data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). This is the largest increase in productivity since Q2 2011.

The data...

Ireland – Majority of workers expect to get a pay rise in 2018

More than eighty percent (84%) of employees in Ireland, expect salaries to increase, according to the 2018 Abrivia Recruitment/TCD Salary, Employment and Economic Trends Survey.

The survey, which was conducted with 7,400 clients and 45,000 employees from multiple industry sectors, showed 48% of the workers...

Spain – More than half of workers confident in keeping their jobs for the next six months

More than half, or 64%, of workers in Spain, are confident about maintaining their job during the next six months, according to data from Randstad Spain.

Randstad’s research states that more than 11.4 million employed people trust to continue working in their current job during the next six months in...

UK – Ginger Recruitment Services defrauded by worker who faked travel expenses (Lancashire Post)

A former recruitment consultant for Ribchester-based recruitment firm Ginger Recruitment Services has been given eight months in jail for defrauding the firm by making false expense claims, according to the Lancashire Post. Mark Hudson defrauded the firm by faking journeys as far as Norwich, purporting...

World – Resources Connection revenue up 6.2%, European business drives growth

US-based professional staffing provider Resources Connection Inc. (NASD: RECN) reported revenue rose 6.2% in its fiscal second quarter ended 25 November with a lion’s share of the growth coming from Europe.