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Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Fiona Stalker Fiona Stalker London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC SP0.305

Revenue

£1.3bn

2024-25

£1.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

24,831

Businesses

1,133

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry analysis

Over the five years through 2024-25, industry revenue is anticipated to increase at a compound annual rate of 4.1% to reach £1.3 billion. Revenue has benefited from an increase in demand for healthcare services, driven by an ageing population, which has necessitated an expanding pool of healthcare workers. Staffing shortages across the NHS have also left many healthcare providers with little choice but to rely on agencies to fill empty positions on staff rotas.

Trends and Insights

  • Health-care recruitment agencies are in high demand. Staffing shortages have left many hospitals and practices struggling to satisfy patients needing appointments. They've increasingly turned to recruitment agencies to help find and plug gaps in their workforce, lifting revenue.
  • Nursing recruitment remains a struggle. The number of nurses registered with the NMC grew by 52,148 in 2022-23, but the nursing vacancy rate reached a record high of 11.8%.
  • London is a hotspot for healthcare recruitment agencies. Despite only boasting 134 hospitals, global recruitment firms set their headquarters here due to London's status as a business hub.
  • Competition drives specialisation in healthcare recruitment. With agencies focusing on niche areas such as nursing, they increase their industry expertise and improve their reputation, attracting high-quality candidates and employers.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

There’s a shortage of healthcare professionals to catch up with mounting appointment demand

  • Across the healthcare sector, early retirements, staff burnout and insufficient investment in training new staff has left the NHS struggling with staffing shortages, whilst demand for health-care services continues to soar.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK
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

Demand for doctors is rising as the population ages

  • The UK population is ageing and the elderly are more likely to visit or stay in a hospital due to age-related illnesses, increasing the number of staff needed in hospitals to cope with higher demand.

Biggest companies in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
ID Medical Group Ltd
199.0
Medacs Healthcare plc
179.5
MedicsPro Ltd
60.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 8 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Allied health professionals, Nurses and Doctors. Allied health professionals is the largest segment of the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Nurses are in high demand so recruitment ages are hard at work

  • Agencies provide recruitment services for adult nurses, children's nurses, mental health nurses and learning disability nurses.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Healthcare staff recruitment agencies list employment vacancies for individuals that work to improve others’ physical well-being and social functioning capacity. Individuals that are referred or placed for employment by industry operators are not employees of the agencies. While temporary workers remain employees of the recruitment agency, these agencies do not directly supervise their employees at the clients’ work sites.

What's included in this industry?

NursesDoctorsAllied health professionals

Companies

ID Medical Group LtdMedacs Healthcare plcMedicsPro Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 8 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

LOCUMSTAFF BANKALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 78.1 - Health-care Staff Recruitment 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

Health-care recruitment agencies are in high demand. Staffing shortages have left many hospitals and practices struggling to satisfy patients needing appointments. They've in...

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

Nursing recruitment remains a struggle. The number of nurses registered with the NMC grew by 52,148 in 2022-23, but the nursing vacancy rate reached a record high of 11.8%.

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

London is a hotspot for healthcare recruitment agencies. Despite only boasting 134 hospitals, global recruitment firms set their headquarters here due to London's status as a...

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

Competition drives specialisation in healthcare recruitment. With agencies focusing on niche areas such as nursing, they increase their industry expertise and improve their r...

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

Medacs Healthcare has pioneered innovative staffing solutions. Winning large contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic helped propel revenue growth. Hospitals have become more d...

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 ID Medical Group Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Medacs Healthcare plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of MedicsPro Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 5 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for ID Medical Group Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Medacs Healthcare plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for MedicsPro Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 5 additional companies

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

Agencies must register with the Care Quality Commission. This regulation underscores the importance of maintaining high operational standards, ensuring agencies provide only ...

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

Healthcare recruiters are experiencing profitability growth. Agencies specialising in higher-paying roles are seeing a growing profit margin, as demand surges due to an agein...

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 Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 1,133 businesses in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies market in United Kingdom are ID Medical Group Ltd, Medacs Healthcare plc and MedicsPro Ltd

What does the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Nurses and Doctors are part of the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is ID Medical Group Ltd.

How competitive is the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Health-care Staff Recruitment Agencies in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Employment Placement Agencies in the UK
  • Universities in the UK
  • Hospitals in the UK
  • Online Recruitment Sites in the UK

International industries

  • Global HR & Recruitment Services
  • Healthcare Staff Recruitment Agencies in the US
  • Employment & Recruiting Agencies in Canada
  • Employment Placement and Recruitment Services in Australia
  • Employment Placement and Recruitment Services in New Zealand

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.