Executive search worldwide - statistics & facts

Executive search is a specialized method of hiring for senior positions and executive jobs across various different organizations, also commonly referred to as headhunting. This is a task that has become largely outsourced, i.e. firms have hired other companies who specialize in finding specific roles in leadership and executive positions. In theory, this should help firms to make better informed decisions for new personnel in high-paying positions that bear considerable responsibilities. The development of the market size of the executive search industry has been significant, as it more than doubled in size since 2015 and has continued to exhibit growth. Furthermore, executive search professionals overwhelmingly agreed that they expected revenue to increase in 2022 when compared to the previous year.

Global staffing industry

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global staffing industry has had to be somewhat restructured owing to the many complications that the spread of the virus brought to the traditional workplace. Some of the main challenges for staffing and recruitment companies in 2022 included a general talent shortage and shifts towards non-traditional work. In order to combat these challenges set upon the industry, the main operational priorities anticipated by staffing firms were candidate acquisition and digital transformation. Furthermore, trends in the staffing and recruitment industry according to professionals have suggested that both technology investments and operating budgets will continue to increase in the face of operational setbacks.

Leading companies in the executive search industry

The persistent leader of executive search companies is often considered to be Korn Ferry. The Los Angeles-based consulting firm increased their total revenue by almost one billion U.S. dollars in 2022. This demonstrated a full financial comeback and more following the changes to traditional hiring methods owing to the spread of COVID-19. When measured by revenue, Korn Ferry is indeed the top executive search firm worldwide. By comparison, a global competitor in Egon Zehnder generated a total revenue that equated to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars less than Korn Ferry in the corresponding year.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Feb 10, 2023

Key insights

Market size of the HR services worldwide
582bn EUR
Market size of the global executive search industry
27bn EUR
Market size of the U.S. executive search industry
5.5bn USD
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Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Market size of the HR services industry worldwide from 2012 to 2022, by service line (in billion euros)

Staffing & Personnel

Market size of the HR services industry worldwide by service line 2012-2022

Top executive search firms worldwide in 2021, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Staffing & Personnel

Top global executive search firms by revenue 2021

Market size of the executive search industry worldwide from 2012 to 2021 (in billion euros)

Staffing & Personnel

Market size of the executive search industry worldwide 2012-2021

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