WEConversations | Insiders’ Insights: HR Services’ Outlook on Labour Market Challenges

WEC’s Q3 2024 Labour Market Strategic Insights showed that the global labour market is facing several challenges, with agency work activity remaining strained due to negative turnover growth in many countries, despite some stabilization in hours worked. Job vacancy rates and labour shortages were easing, although in some sectors they were still strong.

As we approached the end of the year and geared up for 2025, the WEConversations edition of October 2024 dived into what economic and labour market situation awaits the staffing industry in 2025 and which reasons are behind the frictions in labour markets currently.

WEC members can access a recording of the session on the Members Area.

Our experts

Dominique Hermans, member of the Executive Leadership Team responsible for strategy and transformation, Randstad

Dominique earned a master’s degree in industrial sciences and spent the first years of her career working as an engineer on various projects.  This way, she got to know several companies from the inside, and her interest in the people side of the business was triggered. In 2001, she joined Randstad to contribute to the success of companies based on that talent need. She started as a manager in Belgium and quickly progressed to regional and national directors. After becoming responsible for Tempo-Team in Belgium, she was asked to cross the border into the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, she has, in recent years, consecutively led Tempo-Team, Randstad and the Randstad Group.

As of 2023, she is a member of the executive leadership team. After a year and a half of being responsible for 13 countries as Chief Executive Northern Europe, she has been appointed Chief Strategy & Transformation since June 2024.

Martin Meier, Vice President of Group Insights & Strategy, The Adecco Group

Martin is a German-Swiss national with over 18 years of experience at The Adecco Group, having held various global roles across corporate, strategy, transformation, and operational businesses. His career encompasses the full spectrum of HR services, providing him with deep expertise in both strategic and operational functions.

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Martin serves as the Vice President of Group Insights & Strategy. He is responsible for leading the Group’s strategy process and managing the insights function. In this role, he captures market, competitor, and labour market trends, supporting the company to make informed, forward-thinking decisions.

Daniele Merlerati, Chief Regional Officer APAC, Baltics, Benelux, Gi Group Holding

Born in 1976, an Italian citizen, Daniele spent his childhood in multicultural environments like the Middle East and Africa. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Literature from Pavia University. After graduation, he worked for Fastweb SPA (TLC) in Customer Care and Training areas.

He joined Gi Group Holding in 2007, taking the roles of Branch Manager in Italy for 2 years and China Country Manager for 3 years. Since 2013, as International Business Senior Director, he has supervised international business in several countries. He undertook several Interim Country Management roles for the Group (Romania (2013), Bulgaria (2015), France (2013-2017), India (2016), Switzerland (2023), Baltics (2024), Belgium) following the international development in all the company areas.

Since 2018 in the current role, reporting to the Group CEO, he follows the operations in Asia Pacific, Baltic countries and Benelux for the Group.

The discussion will be moderated by Shazia Ejaz, Director of Campaigns & Research at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), our UK National Federation.