Recruitment sector hit as nine firms fold

NINE recruitment firms have gone out of business since the start of the year as the sector has taken a “hard hit”.

Managing director of Premier Recruitment Pat Fitzgerald said in the firm’s 21 years in Ireland the last 12 months have been the most difficult.

He estimates there are now 50% fewer people working in the sector in Ireland than at the height of the boom. “Everyone has scaled back. Some of the big firms are closing regional offices,” he said.