Agency work is leading the economic recovery in the European labor market.

This is according to the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (Eurociett), which has revealed in its new Agency Work Business Indicator (AWBI) that the industry has recorded positive growth since March 2010.

Having reached its lowest point in the second quarter of 2009, the market climbed by 23 per cent in October 2010 compared with the same month the previous year, with growth in hours worked witnessed in all countries included in the survey.

A year-on-year rise in agency workers of 35 per cent was reported for Germany during October to climb ahead of pre-crisis levels.

In addition, the Eurociett figures demonstrate a 47 per cent jump over the 12 months to the third quarter of 2010 in Poland, while Italy saw contract jobs up by 26 per cent in November 2010 and France by 18 per cent.

"This data points to a recovery in this sector and this is positive for a European jobs based recovery," commented the organization's managing director Denis Pennel.

In related news, Eurociett recently met with European Union commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion Laszlo Andor.

Posted by Alex Donnell