Private employment agencies could create more than 2.1m new jobs in Europe by 2011, according to new research. The report entitled ‘More Work Opportunities for More People’, produced in conjunction with Eurociett – the representative body for the recruitment industry across Europe, says that recruitment agencies currently employed 3.3m agency workers, but predicts that this could rise to 5.4m.

Tom Hadley, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s director of external relations and a member of the Eurociett Board, comments: “The report could not have come at a better time, with next week’s crucial Employment Council meeting in Brussels due to discuss regulation on the recruitment industry in Europe and the proposed EU Agency Workers Directive, which has remained blocked since 2002.

“The findings from the research underline the crucial importance of ensuring that any agreement on the Directive enhances rather than hinders the effective provision of temporary work services across Europe.”