Thu, 18 Feb 2016 

Netherlands-based global recruitment giant Randstad has seen Q4 growth in many of its operating locations, particularly Europe, though challenging conditions have held it back in emerging markets. 

The company’s fourth-quarter financial results, released today and covering the three months to 31 December show:

• Overall Q4 revenue grew 6.6% organically (excluding the impact of currency effects, acquisitions and disposals) year-on-year to €5bn (£3.9bn)

• Q4 Gross profit grew 6.9% to €943m

• Q4 EBITA (operating profit before amortization and impairment acquisition-related intangible assets and goodwill, integration costs and one-offs) increased 18% to €245m

• Full year revenue grew 6.2% to €19.2bn

• Full year gross profit grew 6.7% to €3.6bn

• Full year EBITA increased 16% to €862m

The company notes “accelerated growth” in France (revenue up 10%) and strong growth in the Netherlands (up 9%), Italy (up 19%) and Spain (up 16%). 

Revenue growth was down 4%, though perm fees were up 11%, in the UK, with the company citing an “increasingly challenging market”. It did not go into more detail, or provide base line figures.

The North American market, the company’s largest geographical segment, returned “stable” growth (revenue up 4% year-on-year) though it was held back by a “challenging” Canadian market (revenue down 2% year-on-year).