Recruitment Statistics - Annual Summary 2024
Job Flow Index
Every month the Firefish Job Flow Index analyses recruitment statistics and industry trends to provide recruitment agency leaders with insight into market conditions. This annual summary collates the data from the last 12 months to provide a clear insight into the year as a whole.
The Firefish Job Flow Index allows you to explore recruitment statistics drawn from over 750 recruitment agencies.
Recruitment Overview 2024
Total placements made increased by 16% in 2024. This increase was led by the strong growth of contract and temp placements, which increased by 24%. Permanent placements, however, decreased by 10% YOY.
2024 was undoubtedly a tough year for the recruitment industry, with the Office for National Statistics reporting a decrease of 18% in vacancies nationally. For agencies using Firefish, however, the reality was less harsh. The number of jobs created in Firefish in 2024 was equal to the volume in 2023 and the number of job adverts created increased by a modest 2%.
There was a decrease of 5% in the number of permanent jobs created in 2024 and it was permanent placements that suffered, declining by 10% YOY.
There was significant growth in the number of temp and contract placements made, however, with placements in the construction, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and FMCG, and blue collar sectors increasing significantly in the second half of 2024.
Placements by sector
Permanent placements in the professional services sector were stronger in the first half of the year.
Temp & contract placements in the professional services sector were stronger in the second half of the year, peaking in October and July.
Professional Services
Finance & Accountancy
Permanent placements in the finance and accountancy sector remained steady in 2024 with a seasonal dip in November and December.
Temporary and contract placements were stronger in the first half of the year with the exception of a peak in October. This was likely in preparation for the Budget announcement on 30th October.
Technology
Permanent placements in the technology sector have been relatively consistent throughout 2024, with only a seasonal dip in December providing significant fluctuation.
Temporary & contract placements in the technology sector increased steadily between June and October, increasing by 107% over this period. Placement rates declined into November and December.
Total placements rose by 16% in 2024 vs 2023. This rise was led by a 24% increase in Contract and Temp placements YOY, while Permanent placements decreased by 10% YOY.
Performance overview
Placements
Explore monthly recruitment statistics including agency placement trends throughout 2024.
Construction
Permanent placements in the construction sector were stronger in the first half of the year, declining steadily from July to December.
Temporary & contract placements were significantly stronger in the latter half of 2024. An expected seasonal dip made December the worst-performing month of the year.
Engineering, Manufacturing, Logistics & FMCG
Permanent placements in engineering, manufacturing, logistics & FMCG grew steadily throughout 2024, with a seasonal dip in December.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector also grew throughout 2024, with steady increases each month from May to October.
Sales & Digital Marketing
Permanent placements in the sales & digital marketing sector declined throughout 2024, dropping significantly from July to August and failing to recover.
Temporary and contract placements in sales & digital marketing were steady before a seasonal dip in December.
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Jobs created and number of placements
In 2024 71% of jobs created were placed. The number of jobs created by Firefish users in 2024 was equal to the number created in 2023. This is despite an 18% decrease in vacancies nationally, as reported by the Office for National Statistics.
There was a 5% decrease in the number of permanent jobs created in 2024 vs 2023. In 2024 24% of permanent jobs created were placed.
There was a 7% increase in the number of temp & contract jobs created in 2024 vs 2023.
Explore monthly recruitment statistics including agency placement trends. Compare jobs created to placements made and explore performance by sector.
Job Demand
Permanent
Temp & Contract
Blue Collar
Permanent placements in the Blue Collar sector were stronger in the first half of the year than in the second.
Temporary & contract placements in this sector were significantly higher in the second half of the year, despite a significant seasonal dip in December. Placements peaked in October.
Recruitment Marketing Statistics
Explore the monthly recruitment agency marketing trends throughout 2024.
Application Source
The source of applications for your agency's job is a good indicator of the strength of your agency's brand presence and candidate loyalty.
Over one-third (34%) of applications to Firefish clients' jobs came from candidates who already existed in their recruitment CRM in 2024.
Increasing the volume of applications from candidates who are already in your system reduces the cost to serve and time to fill.
Job Adverts
This chart shows the number of new job adverts posted each month across all sectors and platforms. Multiple adverts can be posted per job but this data indicates the volume of active adverts per month.
The Office for National Statistics reported a 18% decrease in the number of active job ads in 2024 vs 2023. For recruitment agencies using Firefish, the number of job adverts posted increased by a modest 2%.
The number of quality applications per job has been higher in 2024 than in 2023.
Throughout 2024 there was an average of 5 quality applications per job.
Quality Applications Per Job
Applications from re-engaged candidates
86% of applications from re-engaged candidates were generated by Job Alerts in 2024.
Candidate applications from web sources
63% of applications from web sources were generated by Job Boards in 2024.
37%
increase in revenue per recruiter alongside 500% headcount growth.
"We've grown from 3 to 19 users, and Firefish has adapted to our changing needs.
We've seen Firefish grow a lot, really changing and developing with new features and integrations, and our growth journey is tied to that.
The support team at Firefish is really, really good. They respond straight away, sort any issues quickly, and our needs are often translated onto the roadmap plan and new features in the CRM."
Spec CVs Sent
The sending of speculative CVs (when there is no formal role available) can indicate market confidence and business development activity. The number of Spec CVs sent in 2024 matched the volume sent in 2023.
Having peaked in April, the sending of spec CVs declined until August. From September onwards there was a steady use of spec CVs by recruitment agencies before a typical seasonal decline in December.