Industry News
ECSSA Business CLimate Index - April 2025
In April 2025, the ECSSA State of the Industry Barometer decreases compared to the previous quarter. The index value of 83.3 signifies a decrease of 3.1 index points from the previous assessment period, suggesting a decline in sentiment.
Belgium records the strongest increase with a gain of 8.8 points, reaching 88.1. In contrast, Germany continues its downward trend for the third consecutive quarter, falling to 81.5 – its lowest level since Q2 2020. France, still affected by structural uncertainties, stands at 82.8 points, significantly below its Q1 2024 value of 93.5. Italy remains in the upper tier with 88.0 points but loses 7.8 points compared to the previous quarter – the sharpest decline among all countries. Luxembourg stagnates at 77 points and remains at the bottom of the ranking. Spain experiences a steep drop to 66 points, marking a new low not seen since the COVID-19 crisis.
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)
ECSSA Business Climate Index - NOvember 2024
In November 2024, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 86.4
ECSSA Business Climate Index - April 2024
In April 2024, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 89.5
ECSSA Business Climate Index - October 2023
In October 2023, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 89.9
ECSSA Business Climate Index - May 2023
In May 2023, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 2.6
ECSSA Business Climate Index - December 2021
In December 2021, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 21.4
ECSSA Business Climate Index - May 2020
In May 2020, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of -21.5
ECSSA business climate index - NOVEMBER 2022
In November 2022, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 12.3
ECSSA Business Climate Index - May 2021
In May 2021, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 3.9
ECSSA Business Climate Index - September 2019
In Sptember 2019, the ECSSA Barometer stands at a value of 2.7
European Confederation of Search and Selection Associations
Avenue du Port 86c Box 302
B-1000 Brussels
+49 (0) 228-9161-11
+49 (0) 228-9161-26
info@ecssa.org