Adecco Australia is reportedly almost 30% behind its Australian Defence Force (ADF) staffing target and has had its performance period extended by six months, reports The Australian (paywall).

Adecco was meant to hire 10,512 recruits for the ADF and be able to take a prospective recruit from application to enlistment in 100 days. But Senate estimates revealed Adecco believed it could deliver only 7,461 recruits, and was expected to process recruits in 150 days instead of 100. This is 71% of its target.

The government in 2022 announced it would change the recruitment firm for the ADF from ManpowerGroup to Adecco.

Adecco is expected to provide a recruiting system, to a specified schedule, that delivers 100% of targets in 100 days,” the department said in response to a question on notice from Senate estimates. However, the actual expectation by December 2024 was that this would be done in 150 days, the department said.

“The key challenge includes shortfalls in psychologists and medical professionals to assess candidates,” its response stated.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie criticised the Albanese government over the revelations and accused it of having “no urgency around recruiting Defence personnel”.

“Instead of taking action, the Albanese government has extended Adecco’s performance implementation period,” he said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said, ““The Albanese government has begun to turn the crisis around, with a suite of measures to address recruitment and retention, including a Workforce Plan released last year. We recognise the value of our defence workforce. We are investing in our workforce. And we are ensuring that Defence has the resources, people and capabilities to keep Australians safe.”

SIA contacted Adecco for comment.