The number of recruiters now making a loss in this recession is one in five, according to research from David Pattison, author of a new market report into company performance.

Pattison says: “Increasingly we are seeing companies making a loss for the first time in their history and I think they can rightly claim they are victims of difficult trading conditions. A quick refocus on profitability would ensure this an isolated occurrence – ‘the year the recession forced us into loss.
 
“Eighty-three companies are making a loss for the second, even third year running. These companies are either blatantly undercutting the rest of the market to enhance or maintain market share or, more likely, have delayed making the painful decision more prudent companies have made recently.

“No one wants to trim costs, lay off staff, cancel dividend payments and the like but continuing on regardless is fast becoming unviable. They can’t bury their heads in the sand any longer.”
 
Readers of Recruiter are entitled to a £50 discount on the new Plimsoll Industry Analysis – Recruitment Agencies which provides an assessment of 1,000 companies in the market.

Call 01642 626400 for further details and quote reference PR/SV30.