Employment services industry

The employment services industry's total operating revenue grew by 3.7% in 2003 to $5.8 billion, marking the fourth consecutive year of revenue growth.

This industry's operating profit margin was 3.7% in 2003, down from 5.5% in 2002.

Ontario continued to dominate industry revenues with a 60% share, followed by Quebec (17%), Alberta (13%), and British Columbia (5%).

Temporary staffing activities generated $4.1 billion in operating revenue, a 3.4% increase over 2002. Temporary staffing activities accounted for 79% of operating revenue, unchanged from 2002.

Permanent placement activities generated $1.1 billion in revenues, an increase of 13.7% from 2002 and significantly outpacing the growth of temporary staffing activities. Accordingly, placement activities saw their share of total operating revenue increase to 20.4% from 18.6% in 2002.

Of revenues generated through temporary staffing activities, office, clerical and administrative postings accounted for 27%, followed by industrial and trades (25%), technical (12%), information technology (10%), and professional and management (10%).

Of revenues generated through permanent placements, information technology placements accounted for 43%, followed by office, clerical, and administrative (18%), technical (10%), professional and management (8%), and industrial and trades (6%).

Operating profit for the 20 largest companies increased from 2.7% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2003.

These companies generated 37.5% of the industry's operating revenue, up from 36% in 2002.

Available on CANSIM: table 361-0001.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4718.

Data for the 2003 employment services industry are now available. These data cover information such as revenue, salaries and wages, profit margin and expenditures.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Nancy Preston (613-951-0392; fax: 613-951-6696; nancy.preston@statcan.gc.ca), Service Industries Division.