What recession? PeopleScout reports hiring uptick

Despite sluggish jobs reports and fears of a double dip recession, some companies are growing their workforces. PeopleScout, one of the world’s largest recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) providers, reports its clients had 69 percent more new hires in the first eight months of 2010 than the same period in 2009.

"New hire growth has been impacted by 2009 freezes being lifted and increased replacement hiring, however the majority of the lift appears related to more robust business growth," says Patrick Beharelle, CEO of PeopleScouts' parent company SeatonCorp.

PeopleScout, for its part, has hired over 250 recruitment professionals in the last 90 days to support its clients hiring demands. PeopleScout also reported an uptick in companies signing RPO contracts, with the firm securing 10 new RPO engagements since May. Typically an RPO provider acts as a company's internal recruitment function for a portion of the company's jobs. RPO providers typically manage the super-majority of the recruiting/hiring process, from the opening of a job requisition through the onboarding of the new hire, including staff, technology, method and reporting.

• A health insurance company's hiring activity for call center positions is up 280 percent
• A major airline is hiring 35 percent more in 2010, particularly reservation agents and flight attendants
• A clinical services firm is hiring at a 62 percent higher rate, both professional and non-professional positions
• A major telecommunications company has increased its hiring by more 30 percent in 2010 for key front-line positions