A total of 15 consecutive months of year-on-year growth have been recorded in the European agency work sector.

This is the claim made by the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (Eurociett), which has reported hours worked by those in agency roles rose by eight per cent over the 12 months to June 2011.

However, the organization noted joblessness across the European Union (EU) fell by 2.1 per cent during the month.

Eurociett has suggesting recovery in the agency work sector is starting to slow, mirroring conditions seen in the unemployment and gross domestic product growth in the region.

But, June 2011 saw agency work hours expand by 20.3 per cent in Italy and by 12.8 per cent in Belgium year-on-year, with the latter witnessing a rise of 17.8 per cent in sales revenues over the period.

Recent data from European statistical agency Eurostat indicated that employment rose across the 27 member states during the second quarter of 2011 by 0.2 per cent compared with the previous three months and by 0.1 per cent year-on-year.

Posted by Alex Donnell