International roundup

14-Jan-2009

Australia/US
While the high street in the UK suffers, Stephen Selby, managing director at retail recruiter Success Appointments, is still doing
business with international retailers. Selby told Recruiter: “The retail recruitment sector is down in line with the decreases that retailers are showing, but we have been recruiting for clothing chains from the US and Australia, which are opening offices in the UK.”

Germany
German unemployment rose for the first time since 2006, according to figures from its Federal Labour Agency. Unemployment now stands at 3.06m, a seasonally adjusted rise of 18,000 in December, bringing the jobless rate from 7.5% to 7.6% monthon- month.

Spain
The number of people out of work in Spain has broken the 3m barrier, figures from its Labour Ministry show. Unemployment increased by 139,694, the ninth consecutive monthly increase, to reach 3.13m.

US
Private sector employers cut almost 700,000 jobs in December, according to payroll data firm ADP Employer Services. Its report showed that 473,000 jobs were shed in the services sector, while goods producers axed 220,000 jobs.

India
The recession in North America and Europe has spread to India, according to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). The trade body has warned that at least 10m workers in India could lose their jobs by March.