Recruitment Sector Insight

FEATURE

TOP 12

Recruitment Industry Trends & Statistics

#1

THE UK RECRUITMENT MARKET REACHED £141.2 BILLION AT THE END OF 2022.

This growth represents a cumulative £20.1 billion increase on 2019’s value. This demonstrates the huge role recruitment firms have played in driving post-pandemic recovery for the UK economy. The growth of the recruitment market has been meeting an influx of client and candidate needs. It shows how the market is expanding and the opportunities that are to be had within the industry.

#2

RECRUITERS FILLED 25 MILLION TEMP AND CONTRACT ROLES IN 2022.

This was found in the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s latest report, an annual survey drawing on data for the financial year. Temporary and contract placements were up on the 2021 figures, with a huge 25.7 million placements made in 2022. This is compared to 22.4 million in 2021, and emphasises the importance and growing proficiency of the industry.

#3

THERE ARE NOW OVER 30,000 RECRUITMENT AGENCIES IN THE UK.

The RISR counted 30,035 recruitment agencies in the UK in 2022. The findings showed a 6.5% increase on the previous year, and a total of 201,154 people working in UK recruitment agencies. 79.5% of these agencies are micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

#4

ONLY 16% OF ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES WERE IN EXISTENCE BEFORE 2008.

According to data from Companies House, the number of recruitment agencies operating in the UK has grown on average 27% per year, since 2008. This was triggered by the fallout of 2008’s global financial crisis and the resultant rise of unemployment. The industry is going from strength-to-strength, despite periods of economic instability. It’s a market with real momentum, which is forecast to only continue expanding.

#5

ALMOST A THIRD OF THE UK’S AGENCIES ARE LOCATED IN LONDON.

The capital unsurprisingly has more recruiters than anywhere else in the country, with 31% located in the region. Manchester takes second place, with 2,749 recruitment companies, according to BoldData. Hertfordshire also has a large number of recruitment agencies, making up 3% of the country’s total.