Leading quantity surveying firms are facing hikes in rates from recruitment agencies as a result of the high demand for extra staff.

The head of one top-10 QS and project management firm told QS News that agencies were demanding a higher percentage of gross salaries for placing staff. The source said the rate was rising from about 15% to a percentage in the early 20s.

He said: “It’s happened progressively over the last six months. There is a hardening of their [agencies] attitude to fee levels due to high demand for staff. It’s happening with most of the big boys.”

He added that the increased rates had caused his firm to tighten its procedure for dealing with recruitment firms. He said: “We now have a framework with a small number of firms in place on set rates.”

QS News highlighted the high demand for staff late last month (Meet the new recruits, 29 April).

Source

QS News