Majority of Staffing Firms Implementing New Services and Investing in Marketing

(February 12, 2009)—TalentDrive, the creator of the advanced SaaS recruitment technology, TalentFilter, just released the results from the recent How is Your Firm Adjusting to the EconomyӔ January survey. This survey investigated the tactics staffing firms are employing to transition to the new economic situation.

The most profound statistic was that more than 58 percent of those surveyed reported implementing new services and repositioning their companies to attract new clientele. Fifty-two percent of the firms are investing in more marketing and sales-force increases as the major strategic efforts.

The survey went on to explore staffing firm predictions for the hiring return and major concerns for 2009. Surprisingly, 57 percent predict the staffing downturn will lighten by the end of quarter three, returning to near normal hiring conditions by fall.

Sixty-five percent of firms surveyed feel the overabundance of resumes flooding the market and resume quality issues to be the two major concerns for 2009. As the talent pool continues to expand, firms are struggling with the quantity vs. quality conundrum.

More than 7,500 staffing firms and independent recruiters were surveyed. This survey was conducted between Jan. 16 and Feb. 6.

In summary, the survey found these key points:

52 percent are investing in increased marketing efforts and sales-force increases as the top strategic efforts for business development.
58 percent are implementing new services and repositioning their companies to attract new clientele.
57 percent predict the staffing downturn will lighten by quarter three.
65 percent of staffing firms find the overabundance and quality issues of resumes the No. 1 concern for 2009.

With the weakened economy and raising unemployment rate across the U.S., the exponential increase in the talent pool is causing real issues for staffing firms and the recruiting industry as a whole. It is important that staffing firms work towards improved efficiency and possibly technology solutions to help make sense of the mess,Ӕ Sean Bisceglia, CEO at TalentDrive.