Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £55.2bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Companies have less jobs available in 2024-25
- According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK unemployment rate from June to August 2024 sat at 4%, showing a decrease on the previous quarter (February to April 2024), while the employment rate is above the previous year and economic inactivity rates dipped slightly..
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Skill shortages will remain a problem for companies filling vacancies
- 37% of employers had hard-to-fill vacancies in May 2024 according to the CIPD. Difficulty placing candidates translates to less business for agencies.
Biggest companies in the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Fixed-term temporary workers, Casual workers and Agency workers. Fixed-term temporary workers is the largest segment of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Employers can hire fixed-term temporary workers with particular skillsets when required
- Most revenue comes from fixed-term appointments lasting less than a year, with an end date, although that can vary with demand and availability.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Businesses in this industry provide their clients with workers to temporarily replace or supplement their existing labour force. The individuals are employed by the agency but are supervised by the client at the worksite. The industry excludes employees outsourced on a long-term basis, classified in other industries according to their activity.
What's included in this industry?
Fixed-term temporary workersCasual workersAgency workersSeasonal workersJob-sharing contractsCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
AGENCY STAFFOUTPLACEMENTPAY BETWEEN ASSIGNMENT CONTRACTIndustry Code
SIC 78.20 - Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Companies turn to agencies to help fill record job vacancies. A talent shortage in the UK workforce will continue to challenge companies looking to fill vacancies, which are ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The largest market for temporary employees is for elementary and operative occupations. This sector has leant heavily on temporary workers since the pandemic. Lorry driver sh...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Employment agencies choose London for access to key markets. Favourable employment prospects attract people living in surrounding regions who are prepared to commute, supplyi...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Recruiters target different sectors and prioritise local areas. Most workers seek help from local recruiters, so agencies are spread across the UK.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Agencies tend to specialise, limiting market share. The industry is highly fragmented, with agencies focusing on niche markets and serving their regional areas.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Agencies must not exploit temporary workers. Regulations ensure those seeking employment are paid fairly and given adequate holidays and sick leave. Agencies aren't allowed t...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit is variable across agencies. Salaries are higher in big cities like London, so agencies located there are more profitable, while those with an online presence are more...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £55.2bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 9,973 businesses in the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What does the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Fixed-term temporary workers and Casual workers are part of the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry.
How competitive is the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Newspaper Publishing in the UK
- Search Engines in the UK
Complementors
- Employment Placement Agencies in the UK
- Universities in the UK
International industries
- Global HR & Recruitment Services
- Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in the US
- Professional Employer Organizations in the US
- Office Staffing & Temp Agencies in Canada
- Temporary Staff Services in Australia
View all industries in United Kingdom
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
