Industry News

ECSSA Business CLimate Index - December 2025

In the Autumn Survey 2025, the European Search and Selection market shows renewed stabilisation after the weakness observed at the beginning of the year. The European overall index rises from 84.3 points in Q1 2025 to 86.5 points in Q3, returning to almost the same level as a year earlier. This development suggests that the downturn in early 2025 was temporary, although the market remains clearly below the peak levels reached in 2021.

The European improvement is driven by several strong national recoveries. Germany records a pronounced rebound, with its index increasing from 82 to 89 points, reversing the downward trend of the previous quarters. Italy also strengthens, rising to 91.0 points and consolidating its position in the upper range of European markets. Spain shows the most dynamic turnaround, jumping from 66.3 points in Q1 to 84.8 points in Q3, recovering sharply from its very weak starting position. Luxembourg also improves significantly, with the index rising to 85.7 points.

By contrast, Belgium and France weigh on the overall result. Belgium falls sharply from 88 to 79 points, while France slips from 83 to 81 points. Overall, Europe has exited a clear downturn phase, but the recovery remains uneven and vulnerable, reflecting persistent caution among clients and consultancies alike.

Results of the ECSSA Barometer December 2025

State of the Industry Barometer Autumn (

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ECSSA State of the Search & Selection Industry Barometer

The level of business activity of the recruitment consultancy industry requires a finely-tuned steering given the frequency and reactivity with which it is evolving. That is why the index supplied by the barometer of the European Executive Recruitment market, created by ECSSA in 2010, offers a tool that makes it possible to anticipate the industry’s short-term and mid-term developments.

This quarterly index is the result of a mathematical calculation based on the German Ifo Index integrating two quality factors:

the perception of the current situation as experienced by Recruiters
their estimation of the short-term trends.

It makes it possible to draw lessons at two levels:

the evolution of the situation of each respondent country over time,
the difference in the evolution of each ECSSA member country.

Note: The index values since October 2023 are standardised to the average for 2019. An index value of 100 means that the current business climate index, i.e. the mood in consulting, is at exactly the same level as in 2019.

For questions and comments regarding the European business climate index please contact the Secretary General of ECSSA, Jörg Murmann (info@ecssa.org)