Recruitment News Australia

RNA episode 166 has news for 23 June 2026, with the Hudson creditors meeting again tomorrow, a new leadership hire at Davidson in Melbourne, Hays sells its operations in six European markets, legal right to work from home legislation is tabled in the Victorian state parliament, and the latest SEEK job ad data for May. Question of the Week is "Are large recruitment firms adopting a shrink-to-grow strategy?"

RNA episode 165 has news for 16 June 2026, covering reports that recruitment and facilities management giant Programmed may be sold by its Japanese owner Persol, a Victorian labour hire firm's licence cancellation over disclosure failures, and the Federal Government's $312 million plan to overhaul Australia's employment services system. We also examine a Queensland Government policy change that restores the use of Pty Ltd contractor arrangements following industry advocacy, a New Zealand case where a recruiter won compensation after workplace harassment by a candidate, and new industry forecasts showing the Asia-Pacific staffing market continuing to outpace the rest of the world, while Australia's recruitment market is expected to remain flat. In Question of the Week, Adele asks Ross, "Why are you so optimistic about the future of the recruitment industry?"

Episode 164 explores the impact on the industry if rookie hiring is a thing of the past.

RNA episode 163 has news for 2 June 2026, with the outlook for Hudson creditors looking grim, more senior departures at Davidson in Melbourne, Luke Hemmings back in the news for all the predictable reasons and SEEK's share price plumbs new lows. In the wake of booing at US commencement ceremonies when speakers mention AI, Adele and I share our respective Gen Z daughters' disdain for AI, which prompts our question this week.

RNA episode 162 has news for 26 May 2026, features the RCSA award winners, allegations about MEDAC's treatment of PALM scheme workers, the latest labour market update, a new CEO at Hays plc and another long-standing Melbourne staffing firm closes. In this extended episode, we unpack everything from Talent X 2026 in Melbourne and the 2026 Awards nights.

RNA episode 161 has news for 19 May 2026, covering Ephram Stephnson's sudden online disappearance, the revolving door at the top of Adecco ANZ and company results for Ambition, Recruit Holdings and PERSOL. See why LinkedIn is pumping up their Hiring Assistant product and a depressing report on migrant worker exploitation in this country. In Question of the Week, we unpack the 2026 Federal Budget and how its likely impact on the recruitment sector.

RNA episode 160 has news for 12 May 2026 covering the latest on the Hudson Aust administration, SEEK's latest product competing directly with their recruitment agency clients, Momentum Consulting in administration, positive news about New Zealand's labour market and details on how you can hear Ross speak (and then sing!). Question of the Week covers the reasons Ross believes are the cause of Hudson's slide into administration.

Cover news for the 5th of May 2026 covers the first review in 16 years to the National Employment Standards, Jobs and Skills Australia's CEO forecasts how many Australian jobs AI will wipe out, UoQ research about younger workers' views of their older colleagues and Amazon moving into the recruitment sector. In Question of the Week, we follow up on last week's news about Hudson Australia's voluntary administration by answering additional questions about the VA process.

Episode 158 covers news for 28 April 2026, including compliance cracks, cooling demand, and shaky global performance. Hudson Australia enters administration, a Fair Work Ombudsman ruling put a spotlight on governance failures, while fresh data shows a clear shift in the market. Globally, the big staffing firms aren't faring much better, with profits under pressure and outlooks turning cautious. Back home, SEEK data tells a similar story—job ads easing, but demand still holding in key sectors. Question of the Week is "When a recruitment agency goes into administration, what is the likely outcome?"

This week we unpack a resilient but fragile labour market as unemployment holds at 4.3% with a shift back to full-time jobs while economists warn the real impact of global shocks is still to come. We dive into mixed results from major recruiters Hays, PageGroup and Robert Walters, revealing ongoing pressure across the sector despite pockets of growth. We also look ahead to the industry's big night out at the RCSA Rec Gala, question the loss of independence as Sourcr is absorbed into SEEK, and examine a serious legal case brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman over alleged exploitation of a migrant worker, another stark reminder of the compliance risks facing employers today. Question of the Week is, "How do you entice a candidate to change jobs in an uncertain economy?"

RNA episode 156 has news for 14 April 2026, including the sad passing of an industry legend, a brand refresh for Six Degrees, news of the US job market and BHP's Same Job Same Pay ruling that will change the landscape of labour hire forever. Question of the Week is, "Is old school recruiting becoming new school?

Episode 155 - News includes Christy Moses stepping into the CEO role at Miller Leith, with Stephen Borg, Joe Sette, and Jarrad Dowling all part of a broader leadership transition. We also looked at new data from GCheck showing just how widespread candidate exaggeration and AI-assisted deception have become in hiring, before unpacking the controversy around the Canberra Institute of Technology CEO appointment involving Margot McNeill and Executive Intelligence Group. We discuss to opportunities regional recruitment provides to the sector.

News this week: Australia's hiring market remains active with rising recruitment and easing difficulty, but declining job ads and softer forward confidence signal growing caution. The Coalition is proposing tougher migration and visa rules, reflecting shifting political pressure and a harder stance on population growth. A global report links hundreds of major companies to alleged migrant worker abuse, highlighting urgent calls for supply chain transparency and accountability. Global hiring intentions have surged to a four-year high, led by strong momentum across Asia-Pacific, including solid demand in Australia. SEEK data shows Australian job ads continue to fall amid broad caution, while New Zealand's market rebounds sharply and AI is not yet a major drag on hiring

RNA episode 153 has news for 24 March featuring Quest Personnel entering administration, the ABS reporting a surprise jump in unemployment, to the NSW Government turning back to recruiters, growing scrutiny of AI screening tools, and a regulatory crackdown on sham contracting. Question of the Week is "Should Ai recruiter bots have a human face?"

Episode 152 has news for 17 March 2026 features labour hire scandals to leadership blind spots and changing work patterns. Coles Group is under scrutiny over whether it should have known a labour hire firm was underpaying security guards, new research from Robert Walters reveals a striking perception gap between men and women on leadership inequality, and fresh data from the ABS shows nearly a million Australians are now juggling multiple jobs — suggesting the way people work is quietly shifting. We also have the latest financial results from Korn Ferry and Robert Walters. Question of the Week, "is Melbourne the most liveable city in the world?" Two local residents have their say.

Episode 151 has news for 10 March 2026 featuring results from Hays, Adecco and PageGroup along with the latest Gartner jobseeker survey and the MD of HR Partners resigns.Question of the week is, " Is it fair to ask candidates to access their Chat GPT during an interview?

Episode 150 has news for 3 March 2026 featuring major leadership changes at Hays and Persol, acquisition activity and financial results across the sector, fresh SEEK market data, regulatory updates as well a a new consultancy Senitel Collective launches in Australia. and Question of the Week, "Are you charging candidates for services?

RNA episode 149 includes news for 24 February 2026 featuring the latest on Australia's most controversial recruiter, Luke Hemmings, the likely final instalment in the Employment Hero–Seek saga. Company updates from PeopleIN and The Next Group, along with the latest unemployment data and earnings results from Ignite Limited and Ashley Services Group.

RNA episode 148 includes news for 17 February 2026 featuring SEEK's sudden share price drop, Robert Half report that just may show why an increase in overqualified candidates is so significant to our market. Company results Randstad, Recruit, and Will Group and the overlooked consequences of the PALM scheme. Question of the Week is, " What is the hidden cost of advertising a job in 2026?"

RNA episode 147 has news for 10 February 2026 featuring the GoFundME page for xrecruiter cofounder Declan Kluver, Q4 2025 results from Manpower, Robert Half and LinkedIn. Also results from a survey about how employers determine salaries for new roles. Question of the Week is "What are your candidate red flags"

RNA episode 146 has news for 29 January 2026, featuring CEO leadership moves, perhaps the beginning of the end of Sourcr, WFH case study and the latest on FWO court action against a labour hire business. Question of the Week, "How can you can start 2026 powerfully?"

RNA episode 145: The first full episode for 2026 includes the latest news for 28 January 2026 featuring Adecco, Astute Payroll, Hays ANZ, Robert Walters, and the December labour market update from the ABS. Question of the week ;s "What did Adele learn from her first trip to India?"

RNA Episode 144: Ross interviews Jory and Sam, the co-founders of one of Australia's fastest growing businesses , let alone recruitment agencies, to discover how they have done it.

Episode 143: RNA continues the 2026 Summer Series interviewing Adele's two Gen Z children, Ivrea and Vinley, to discover their views about working life as teenagers and whether they agree with the most common Gen Z stereotypes.

Episode 142: RNA kicks off 2026 with an interview with Guy Clennett and Nikki Clennett, Ross's two eldest Gen Z children to discover their views about working life as twenty somethings and whether they agree with the most common Gen Z stereotypes.

Episode 141 - Our last for 2025. As parting words for the year we talk about the things we would tell a new recruiter to pass on some wise advice.

Episode 140 covers news outlining who are the largest staffing firms in Australia by revenue, an acquisition by Norwest Recruitment and latest WEGA data. The government cutting jobs and sad news about a pioneer of the recruitment industry, Reed looses it's founder.

Episode 139 When does the hiring process turn into unpaid work? In new we cover the sale of WorkPac, Ephram advertising recruiting roles, Staffing Industry Metrix results as well as Sourcr on the wrong side of the discrimination act. Announcement of the TIARA results too.

Episode 138 - Has the updates from RCSA board and council announcements. Early entry jobs and digital transformation in the government both in trouble. As well as results from the Seek SARA awards and an accolade H People received that very few other agencies have. Our question this week comes from a University of Washington study that highlights the issue when AI is involved in hiring. Are we trusting AI too much in the hiring process?

Episode 137 - What can you do when no-one picks up your calls?Unemployment improves despite slower overall job growth. Search 4 announce a further enhancement to their parental leave policy. SafeWork NSW crackdown: the results will surprise you.As well as company results for Accordant Group and Persol

Episode 136 How do recruiters stay relevant in a gigafied labour market? #recruitmentnews

Episode 135 has news for 5 November 2025 including the return of the JobAdder co-founders , the latest public company results, the rise of 'job hugging' in Australia and how high-rated companies in employee public review sites suffer harder when they make layoffs and in Question of the Week - "Who is Wingman Recruitment?"

Episode 134 - Are Interviews effective in assessing skills?News includes a bit of sunshine in the job market results. merger between CMR and YDJ and results from Randstad and Robert Half as well as an interesting survey about elite university bias in the recruitment process. RCSA awards are open now to the whole industry.

Episode 133 Should you endorse a candidate or just refer them? Plus news on latest unemployment figures, APSCO Awards winners and a but about why they won. Results from some of the big agencies that are indicators for the rest of the sector and a study that show AI is preferred by most candidates in the interview process.

RNA Episode 132 has news for 14 October 2025, featuring the September 2025 quarter results for Hays ANZ, the latest Yale research on GenAI's impact on jobs, JSA's latest industry and occupation data and Question of the Week, "What will instantly lose your credibility with TA?"

Episode 131

Episode 130

Could you survive if you could only place from your database?

RNA Episode 128

Episode 127

Episdoe 126

SHAPE 2025 Recap Part 1, featuring Dr Adam Fraser, Simon Kuestenmacher, Paul Roos, Dave Eccles and Tadhg Kennelly and Leigh Sales.

Episode 124

RNA Episode 123

Episode 122

Episode 121 - is your business model dying?

Episode 120

RNA Episode 119

Episode 118

Episode 117

Episode 116 - Are you a TechnoEmpath?