As we approach 2015 it seems fitting to reflect on the many successes of this year. It has been a landmark year for Ciett as we expanded our membership around the world, partnered with the ILO to fight for fair international recruitment practices and have seen the industry record the strongest results since the beginning of the recession. I have no doubt that we, and our members, will continue this momentum into 2015.

One of the highlights for Ciett this year was a roundtable discussion held in Singapore in March. The discussion focussed on improving labour markets by encouraging proper regulation and promoting decent work, in particular the issue of ratifying ILO Convention 181. This is a subject of great importance; it is estimated that nearly 60%^[1] of workers are in a vulnerable position because they work informally, andagency work can offer a decent alternative to informal or undeclared work. It was disappointing to learn that not one of the countries represented at the roundtable had ratified Convention 181 but Ciett and its stakeholders are committed to change this. To highlight the commitment a declaration was signed following the roundtable and Ciett gained three new national federation members; ABADI from Indonesia, PALSCON from the Philippines and VEAF from Vietnam.

Earlier in 2014 we published the 2014 Ciett Annual Report[2] which revealed that the economic recovery has positively affected the employment and recruitment industry. We saw the strongest results reported since the beginning of the recession in 2008. The report also showed that 61% of agency workers are under 30 and 68% of agency workers were unemployed before undertaking agency work. This proves that agency work is a highly effective way for workers to transition from both education to work, as well as unemployment to work. The importance of this cannot be underestimated; transitioning workers into employment makes a huge impact on the personal lives of workers as well as strengthening labour markets.

2014 has seen a more stable global economy, with companies competing for top talent. As the competition gets fiercer, organisations and individuals are in need of an intermediary to help them navigate the changing world of work. The employment and recruitment industry is perfectly placed to do this and the figures back this up, with 36 million people supported globally with their careers each year by the industry.

Looking ahead to 2015 it is clear that the world of work will continue to be impacted by digital developments. The young generation of jobseekers expect immediacy and transparency as they have been raised with social media.  Working with social media, and big data, will help the industry to fulfil these expectations and match the supply and demand of labour in a cost-effective way.

Finally, I am reminded of what was discussed at the Ciett World Employment Conference 2014 and how applicable this is going into 2015. Annemarie Muntz, Ciett President, has said that in order for the positive impact of the employment and recruitment industry to be really felt, we must share our stories with the world. And those stories are overwhelmingly positive. Helping people into work and filling jobs for employers is vital for individuals, organisations and economies and I am proud of the impact that our industry has. There are many stories yet to be told and I, for one, look forward to sharing more of them in 2015.

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About Denis Pennel

Managing Director of Ciett and Eurociett, Denis Pennel is a labour market expert with deep knowledge and years of experience relating to employment at global and EU levels. He recently published “Travailler pour soi”, a book about the new realities of work.

Follow Denis on Twitter @PennelDenis

About Ciett, www.ciett.org

As the International Confederation of Private Employment Services, Ciett is the authoritative voice representing the interests of agency work businesses. Founded in 1967, Ciett consists of 51 national federations of private employment agencies and eight of the largest staffing companies worldwide. Its main objectives are twofold: to help its members conduct their businesses in a legal and regulatory environment that is positive and supportive; to gain recognition for the positive contribution the industry brings to better functioning labour markets.

Follow Ciett on Twitter @ciett_waytowork