World Employment Confederation

03/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/16/2026 09:49

Private employment agencies placed 61 million people in jobs in 2024, despite revenue decline

Private employment agencies around the world placed 61 million people in jobs in 2024, nearly one million more than in 2023, even as industry revenues fell 4.2%, according to the World Employment Confederation's (WEC) annual Industry Impact Report 2026.

Published on 16th March 2026

The report, which tracks the global performance of private employment services and the role of agencies for the economy and society , highlights a striking divergence between softening revenues and rising job placements. The findings suggest that agencies are absorbing labour market slack in a difficult economic environment, matching more workers to opportunities.

"Despite economic softness, 2024 demonstrated that private employment agencies are a key engine of inclusion and labour market resilience," the report states.

Of the 61 million people placed, 58.4 million were placed through temporary agency work and 2.5 million through direct recruitment. 86% of those assignments were full-time roles. Around 23% of temporary agency workers were offered permanent contracts, with Belgium recording the highest conversion rate at 70%.

The report also documents strong inclusion outcomes. Women account for 40% of agency workers globally, students 12%, and workers over 45 account for 23%, groups that agencies disproportionately support into formal employment through flexible, structured pathways.

Career management services helped 570,000 people navigate job transitions in 2024, a 9% increase year-on-year, with the US accounting for 57% of all individuals supported by the top three market leaders. Geographically, the recovery is uneven.

The Asia-Pacific region is now the largest market by job placements, with India and China leading growth. North America and Europe contracted in 2024, with the US and UK alone accounting for a decline of nearly 2 million placements.

AI and digitalisation are reshaping the industry, with OECD data showing that 20.2% of firms were using AI in 2025, more than double the rate seen in 2023. Agencies are responding with digital onboarding, algorithm-supported sourcing and AI-enabled matching tools, while facing rising compliance costs from stricter data governance regulation.

The hardest-to-fill roles in 2025 according to Lightcast include nursing assistance, long-term care professionals, regulatory sciences specialists, and customer intelligence roles, reflecting deeper structural pressures in demographics, healthcare, and digital transformation.

The WEC Industry Impact Report 2026 draws on data from national federation members across more than 50 countries, as well as data from Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) and labour market intelligence firm Lightcast.

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World Employment Confederation published this content on March 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 16, 2026 at 15:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]