PageGroup PLC (LSE:PAGE)’s interim results are not expected to set the house on fire when the City recruiter reports on Thursday, 8 August.
Britain’s labour market remains extremely tight and PageGroup in July warned of “no immediate signs of improvement”.
“As clients' recruitment budgets have tightened, they have become more risk averse which has slowed the recruitment process,” management said at the time, adding: “Although salary levels remain strong, offers made to candidates were not as elevated as they were in 2022 and early 2023.”
PageGroup’s profits are expected to halve by the end of the year; any reprieve from this dour forecast will be met with glee from shareholders.
PageGroup’s own recruitment policies will also be closely watched, having reduced its internal headcount by 12% year on year in the second quarter.
Management suggested that the headcount “is at the right level” during the second-quarter analysts call, though there was no concrete assurance that further staff reductions are not planned.