In this section we first define the industry in which OWS operates. Secondly, the industry size, growth rate and sales projections are displayed, followed by the industry characteristics. These aspects will provide a clear view of the playing field OWS exists in and will later be used as a base for the market segmentation in the market analysis. Finally, we discuss the industry trends and long-term prospects which will contribute to the financial statements and the operational plan.
Industry definition
The industry in which OWS will operate is defined as: Activities of employment placement agencies ( code level: N78.1.0). Private employment services industry provides a variety of human resources to businesses. These services usually include labor market intelligence, talent acquisition, placement, advisory services, managed services and career management. Industry size, growth rate and sales projections
The industry size of the global private employment services industry in the year 2020 is estimated to be €465,8 billion according to the of the World Employment Confederation. Due to the global pandemic the industry size of 2020 was very close to 2017 when the industry size was at . In 2018 it became while in 2019 the industry generated an estimated in revenue. The findings from this research indicate that growth has been exceptionally slowed down in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but it is expected to continue in the years to come as the economy recovers from the crisis. In 2021, as economic and labor market conditions improved in many countries, the output in the most OECD countries even surpassed their pre-crisis levels. FIGURE 1. ACTIVITY (VOLUME) OF EUROPEAN AGENCIES WORK SECTOR BETWEEN 2008-2021 (WEC Economic Report, 2022).
Figures 2-5 represent the global market growth from 2017 until 2020 in billion euros. The graphs also indicate the annual growth rate. In the context of this business plan, the focus is on Direct Recruitment in the crypto industry.
FIGURE 2. GLOBAL INDUSTRY SIZE AND GROWTH RATES OF PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY FROM 2016 TO 2017 (WEC Economic Report, 2019).
FIGURE 3. GLOBAL INDUSTRY SIZE AND GROWTH RATES OF PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY FROM 2017 TO 2018 (WEC Economic Report, 2020).
FIGURE 4. GLOBAL INDUSTRY SIZE AND GROWTH RATES OF PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY FROM 2018 TO 2019 (WEC Economic Report, 2021). FIGURE 5. GLOBAL INDUSTRY SIZE AND GROWTH RATES OF PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT INDUSTRY FROM 2019 TO 2020 (WEC Economic Report, 2021).
FIGURE 6. ANNUAL GROWTH RATE PER CATEGORY (WEC Economic Reports).
Figure 6 demonstrates the average annual growth rate before Covid-19 ( 2020) for Direct Recruitment and RPO together was 19%. According to , a global industry size is projected to reach €831 billion by 2027, with 4% growth. Industry structure
Concentration/fragmentation
While the private employment industry for traditional Web 2 jobs is (major players such as Adecco, Randstad, Manpower) with mostly huge corporations making use of their services, in crypto the situation looks different. There are perhaps 8-12 active crypto recruitment agencies that operate within different ecosystems. In this way, the professional recruitment scene in crypto is quite fragmented at the moment. The biggest agencies are: 5 forces analysis
Based on the obtained perspective, we can say that the crypto recruitment industry looks quite attractive given competition is high on two out of five criteria.
Industry critical success factors
Success comes down to making a good match - having a large talent pool, many community connections and partnerships. For this to be achieved, the following points must be account for.
Being familiar with the landscape of Web 3 - theoretical (understanding the lingo) Large talent pool: having a network of crypto enthusiasts Have experience in HR, recruitment Operational efficiency with clients and users Strategic approach to talent acquisition Human-centric approach towards clients and users Industry trends
To understand where this industry is going we have looked at the PESTEL-analysis and some of the most relevant trends for this industry.
Industry long-term prospects
Blockchain and crypto industry is shaping the future of the economy and increasing its pace while the majority of the population is still not ready for it. This creates a paradox where demand for specialists is a lot higher than its supply. Being equipped with Web 2 skills becomes not enough for working in Web 3 - people need to develop trust and learn to deal with some degree of regulatory uncertainty. This is why traditional Web 2 agencies with no experience of working in the crypto industry do not currently have potential to fill this recruitment gap - they first need to learn the basics of Web 3 and practically change the ideology of their candidates - showing that crypto is not all scams. Additionally, this needs to happen very fast before the candidate loses his/her attention in a position. All in all, we conclude that traditional recruitment services as they are today have a long learning curve ahead before they will be able to operate efficiently in the Web 3 space.
In the meantime, as job demand for blockchain specialists continues to grow, Web 3 employers need recruitment assistance from the insiders - professionals who have access to large crypto networks but most importantly, have the right mindset about crypto and are able to persuasively communicate it to the less familiar candidate.