Hays shares were 0.8 per cent down at 72.45p on Thursday morning, taking their losses over the past year to around 26 per cent.
However, the group's total consultant fee productivity grew by 4 per cent during the half-year period, helped by a 40 per cent increase in the United States.
Recruitment issues: Hays' first-half profits have slumped following a significant slowdown in permanent hiring across its largest markets.
Hays' first-half profits slumped on the back of a significant slowdown in permanent hiring across its largest markets.
The recruiter revealed its like-for-like operating profits plummeted by 58 per cent to £25.5million in the six months ending December, while its pre-tax profits plunged by two-thirds to £9.7million.
