| April 1, 2006 Hunt-Scanlon Survey: Recruiters Rally to Highest Levels Since 2000 Stamford, CT, April 1, 2006 – Hunt-Scanlon Advisors, the market research firm and online information provider to the human capital and executive recruiting industries, today released its 17th annual recruiting industry survey and rankings report. According to the company, continued robust demand for outsourced recruiting services has led the nation's 25 largest executive search firms to post a 21 percent jump in revenue, to $1.375 billion, a rise from $998 million the year before. "By nearly every industry measure and metric, executive recruiters are back to work in a very big way," said Scott A. Scanlon, chairman and CEO. As a group, the top 25 U.S. recruiting firms represent a growing piece of the outsourced executive search and human capital staffing business. Sixteen out of the 25, or two-thirds, reported significant double-digit gains in this year's survey - and two of the top four firms broke an important psychological as well as financial barrier: Spencer Stuart and Russell Reynolds Associates each reported higher U.S. revenue figures than they posted five years ago - the industry's peak year. Korn/Ferry International, ranked No. 1 in the survey, grew its top line in North America by 30.3 percent in 2005 - the firm's second consecutive year of 30 percent-plus growth. Worldwide, the "big five" global recruiters broke the $2 billion revenue mark, reporting combined fees of $2.076 billion; as a group these rivals remain just $158 million shy of their record-setting year in 2000. "Our analysis this year suggests that the industry turnaround we've all anxiously been waiting for is now upon us," said Mr. Scanlon, noting that as a group the top 25 added nearly a quarter billion dollars to their top lines in 2005. "One more spectacular year of growth in excess of 25 percent will bring this industry back to the apex of where it stood in the pre-terrorist days of 2000," said Mr. Scanlon. Seven out of 10 industry executives polled in this year's survey believe this growth target will be achieved in 2006. One interesting metric culled from the survey this year: the top 25 collectively hired just 79 recruiters in 2005, a 7.5 percent increase; 1,119 recruiters now populate this group compared to 1,040 last year. By contrast the top 25 had 1,653 recruiters on their payrolls in 2000 - a third more than this year. "All this suggests to me that search firms are finding ways to drive business in, execute it - all while keeping headcount down with a keener eye on the bottom line. It is a winning strategy that most firms neglected to consider five years ago," said Mr. Scanlon. ABOUT HUNT-SCANLON Hunt-Scanlon Advisors is a leading market research firm and online data provider to the executive recruiting and human capital industries. The firm publishes market intelligence, including: industry rankings, online research, real time electronic newswires, three monthly newsletters (Executive Search Review, Online Recruiting Strategist and Diversity Monitor), directories of executive recruiters and senior executives, online database products, and also provides advisory services. The firm's online recruitment portals for senior executives connect buyers and sellers of recruiting and human capital services worldwide. Hunt-Scanlon produces executive-level conferences on human capital management, senior-level recruiting, staffing technology, diversity and talent acquisition strategies for CEO's, senior human resource executives and recruiting professionals. Contact Information:
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