Randstad News Release (04/25/13)

Randstad has reported revenue of €3,832 million for the first quarter of 2013. Net income rose 3% to €29.7 million, from €28.8 million in the same quarter a year earlier. North American revenue was €900.2 million in the first quarter, down 3% compared with the first quarter of 2012. Randstad’s U.S. staffing revenue decreased by 4%, its in-house services revenue was flat, and its U.S. professionals revenue declined by 4%. The company reported gross profit in North America was at the same level as last year despite the decline in revenue and fewer working days.

On Assignment Inc. News Release (04/24/13)

On Assignment Inc. reported revenues of $389.2 million for the first quarter of 2013, up 148% from $156.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. The results include On Assignment’s acquisition of Apex Systems. The company’s net income was $24.6 million in the first quarter, up from $5.4 million during the same period last year. Revenues were $212.7 million for Apex Systems; $95.3 million for Oxford, up from $78.8 million; $40.5 million for its life sciences segment, down from $41.4 million; $14.4 million for its health care segment, up from $12.6 million; and $26.3 million for its physician segment, up from $24.1 million.

TrueBlue News Release (04/24/13)

TrueBlue Inc. reported revenues of $346 million for the first quarter of 2013, up 11% from $311 million during the same period last year. The company also reported a net loss of $1.1 million for the first quarter, down from net income of $1.5 million in the year-ago period. The first quarter of 2013 includes the acquisition of MDT Personnel and related nonrecurring acquisition and integration costs. “We saw steady growth in demand for our services across most industries and locations, and we are especially encouraged by an increase in construction activity,” said TrueBlue chief executive officer Steve Cooper.

Reuters (04/25/13) Annalyn Kurtz

Applications for jobless benefits decreased by 16,000 to 339,000 in the week ended April 20, the lowest since March 9, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. The figure is slightly lower than expected. Economists had forecast jobless claims would fall to 351,000, according to Briefing.com.

The figures indicate companies have enough confidence to maintain current staffing levels and are in a position to add to headcount should sales strengthen. At the same time, recent data showing the economy began to cool at the end of the first quarter give businesses reason to pause, prolonging the time it takes joblessness to retreat to prerecession levels.