Recruitment News Australia

Job market holds steady, PageGroup goes back to being Michael Page, Randstadt's global profits climb, Queensland rolls out big apprentice incentives, a Harvard study exposes a wild hiring bias toward fast repliers, Seek ad volumes keep sliding as competition hits a record for job applications.

Episode 170 includes news for 21 July 2026, including the Victorian Labour Hire Authority's scathing assessment of former Hudson directors Mark Steyn and Kendall Ryan, why the ATO killed the original rescue plan, and what HiTech's bid could mean for Hudson's future. We also discuss a groundbreaking Harvard study revealing how weight-loss drugs are changing employment outcomes for women, analyse the latest financial results from PageGroup, Robert Walters and ManpowerGroup, and look at Victoria Police's innovative strategy of rehiring retired officers to tackle critical workforce shortages. Question of the week is "What characterises the most AI-proof jobs in the world?"

RNA episode 169 has news for 14 July 2026, including the dramatic collapse of Hudson’s original rescue plan as ATO legal action and the Victorian Labour Hire Authority force a complete rethink, with HiTech now emerging as the preferred bidder. We pay tribute to recruitment pioneer Bill Pollock, the visionary founder of Drake International, examine the final days of the ICAC hearings into recruitment corruption at the University of Wollongong, discuss the remarkable global career of former Randstad Enterprise CEO Michael Smith, and analyse Hays’ latest results as Australia's recruitment market continues to face a challenging and uneven recovery.

RNA episode 168 has news for 7 July 2026: Ephram Stephenson springs back to life, the ICAC inquiry about recruitment and promotion at the University of Wollongong claims a huge scalp, Korn Ferry acquires AMS , Momentum Consulting moves from voluntary administration to a DOCA, and the latest research on discrimination and harassment in Australian workplaces. In Question of the Week , Adele and Ross debate the EC directive on mandatory communication about salary early in the recruitment process and unpack the implications for the recruitment sector.

RNA episode 167 has news for 30 June 2026 featuring the latest update on the Hudson administration, the latest labor market results, an Adelaide recruitment agency becomes collateral damage in Tasmanian politics, and more recruitment corruption in the NFP/government sector, with a fresh ICAC inquiry scrutinizing recruitment at the University of Wollongong. Question of the Week is, "What makes a recruitment business attractive and to whom?"

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?"