Global staffing market forecasts downgraded

According to SIA’s new global staffing market forecast, the global staffing market is expected to remain flat in 2025, held back by trade tariff uncertainty and other macroeconomic and geopolitical issues.

These issues continue to present a downside risk to all current forecasts.

Given the close correlation between GDP and staffing growth in most developed staffing markets, the International Monetary Fund’s April announcement of downgrades to global GDP will directly impact staffing expectations.

The full tariff impact on the global economy is uncertain, given that the final negotiated outcomes remain unknown. However, SIA estimates that the -0.5% global GDP growth downgrade for 2025 announced by the IMF equates to a $9 billion loss of global staffing revenue. Furthermore, for every additional 1% reduction in global GDP growth, the staffing industry will lose 3% growth annually.

Still, there are a number of staffing markets that are expected to grow this year. These include;

• China (+13%)
• India (+12%),
• Spain (+7%),
• Japan (+4%)
• Poland (+3%)
• Italy (+2%)
• Australia (+2%)

Growth can also be found in several emerging staffing markets in APAC.

Less positive outcomes this year are anticipated for the following;

• Germany (-5%),
• US (-4%)
• France (-4%)
•  UK (-2%),

Anticipated to remain flat.

• Netherlands
• Belgium

SIA’s forecast also includes 2026 estimates for the 17 largest staffing markets globally. Following a difficult 2025, SIA expects most major staffing markets to return to moderate growth next year.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

YOU

Cannot control the market
Cannot control the evolution of AI and automation
Cannot control competitors’ actions
No control over the economy
No control over legal and political decisions
You can improve your recruiter skills
The one big differentiator you can control is your recruiter competency

The SRA has 650 recruitment companies globally that have subscribed to our 200 hours of top-quality recruiters and recruitment leader training

Learn with LMS video or ask the super smart AI agent how to solve problems, while you are doing your job!

Train your recruiters now with the best new recruitment learning tool on the market.

Check out the quick demo showing the ‘new’ Savage Recruitment Academy.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************