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Employment Placement Agencies in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Ashkan Salim Ashkan Salim Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ N78.10DE

Revenue

€7.5bn

2024

€7.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

55,543

Businesses

4,577

Wages

€X.Xbn

Employment Placement Agencies in Germany industry analysis

On the client side, the healthcare, pharmaceutical and chemical industries have been among the biggest growth drivers in the recruitment sector in recent years. However, consumer sentiment in private households has been dampened by high consumer prices over the past two years, making potential candidates less willing to change jobs. As a result, there were many risk-averse employees who wanted to postpone a change of employer until supposedly safer times. The difficult economic situation forced many corporate clients to act more cost-efficiently. For cost reasons, many companies looked for their own staff or worked together with the Federal Employment Agency. In order to win over customers, transparency played an increasingly important role in the costs of recruitment services.In light of the staff shortage, the search for suitable candidates is becoming increasingly difficult. Many jobs cannot be successfully completed, which reduces the satisfaction of client companies. At the same time, the labour market situation means that applicants willing to change jobs are waiting for the perfect position for them. Due to the tight labour market, recruitment agencies will expand their search to various channels and further optimise their processes. The use of software tools with AI and big data to find and bring together candidates and companies is steadily increasing in the industry. In 2024, turnover is expected to fall by 1% to 7.5 billion euros. On average, the decline in turnover over the past five years has been 1.2% per year.IBISWorld expects the industry's turnover to grow by an average of 2.9% per year over the next five years, which should generate 8.6 billion euros in 2029. In many industries, digital transformation must be mastered and sustainability measures implemented, for which companies are looking for specialists and managers. Demand for recruitment services is therefore expected to remain high in the long term. In addition, more and more professions require very specific specialist qualifications, which is why companies are often unable to find suitable applicants despite the improved accessibility of online portals. The good order situation goes hand in hand with high profit margins, which means that further competitors are expected to enter the market in the coming years. As a result, the number of companies and employees in the sector is likely to continue to grow.

Trends and Insights

  • By using social networks and intelligent programmes, companies in the sector can achieve efficiency gains. This enables recruitment consultants to identify a higher number of candidates with significantly less work than before.
  • The largest share of turnover is generated by companies in the industry through the placement of employees for senior management. For the future, the industry expects an increasing demand for executives with experience in the areas of digital leadership, agile organisation and environmental economics.
  • The centre region has the highest proportion of companies in the sector. The numerous conurbations in the region are of interest to recruitment agencies, as many international companies and therefore a particularly large number of industry clients are based in the major cities.
  • The recruitment agencies are in competition with the HR departments in the individual companies. Many companies in the sector have therefore focussed on the search for highly qualified executives, which is too time-consuming for in-house HR departments.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €7.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The shortage of skilled labour is both an opportunity and a risk for the recruitment industry

  • The number of job advertisements is likely to continue to rise over the course of the current year. While this development is to be expected in phases of economic upturn, in recessionary or stagnating times, as is currently the case, it means that the labour market is becoming increasingly decoupled from economic cycles. Despite the difficult economic situation, there is a great shortage of staff in companies. This harbours growth potential for the industry.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Employment Placement Agencies in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The search for skilled labour has so far been neglected by recruitment agencies, but offers great potential for growth

  • The search for skilled labour will continue to intensify. This is partly due to demographic change, as older people in particular, who were born in the baby boom years, will retire from the labour market in the coming years.

Biggest companies in the Employment Placement Agencies in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbH
48.1
Egon Zehnder International GmbH
32.6
Kienbaum und Partner GmbH
32.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Employment Placement Agencies in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Placement of employees for upper management, Placement of employees for middle management and Placement of specialists. Placement of employees for upper management is the largest segment of the Employment Placement Agencies in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The placement of employees for senior management is the most important service segment

  • The placement of employees for senior management includes functions that are directly related to company management, such as positions on the board of directors or in management.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Recruitment agencies create and place job vacancies and place applicants with companies. A key characteristic of the industry is that the people placed are not employed by the placement companies. Agencies for the placement of artists are not part of the industry, nor are agencies for the placement of temporary workers.

What's included in this industry?

Placement of employees for upper managementPlacement of employees for middle managementPlacement of specialistsPlacement of management staffPlacement of skilled labour

Companies

ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbHEgon Zehnder International GmbHKienbaum und Partner GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CV-PARSEREXECUTIVE SEARCHHOTDESKINGJOBSHARINGRECRUITER/HEADHUNTERREMOTE WORK

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 78.10 - Employment Placement Agencies in Germany

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

By using social networks and intelligent programmes, companies in the sector can achieve efficiency gains. This enables recruitment consultants to identify a higher number of...

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 share of turnover is generated by companies in the industry through the placement of employees for senior management. For the future, the industry expects an incr...

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

The centre region has the highest proportion of companies in the sector. The numerous conurbations in the region are of interest to recruitment agencies, as many internationa...

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

The recruitment agencies are in competition with the HR departments in the individual companies. Many companies in the sector have therefore focussed on the search for highly...

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

There are no major players in the industry. There are almost no barriers to market entry, which is why many small companies are active in the market.

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
  • Overview of ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Egon Zehnder International GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Kienbaum und Partner GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Egon Zehnder International GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Kienbaum und Partner GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Contractual agreements with clients often include so-called no-touch regulations. Recruitment agencies receive a lot of information about the client during an assignment and ...

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

The profit margin of companies in the sector is at a high level for the time being. The shortage of staff in the economy is likely to worsen in the coming years, resulting in...

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

  • 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 Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany is €7.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Employment Placement Agencies in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 4,577 businesses in the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Employment Placement Agencies market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Employment Placement Agencies market in Germany are ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbH, Egon Zehnder International GmbH and Kienbaum und Partner GmbH

What does the Employment Placement Agencies in Germany include?

Placement of employees for upper management and Placement of employees for middle management are part of the Employment Placement Agencies industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Employment Placement Agencies in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is ManpowerGroup Deutschland Verwaltungs GmbH.

How competitive is the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Employment Placement Agencies industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Search Engines in Germany
  • Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in Germany

Complementors

  • Management Consultants in Germany

International industries

  • Global HR & Recruitment Services
  • Employment & Recruiting Agencies in the US
  • Executive Search Recruiters in the US
  • Employment & Recruiting Agencies in Canada
  • Employment Placement and Recruitment Services in Australia

View all industries in Germany

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 Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

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.