Temporary Placement Firms Ranked by 2000 San Fernando Valley revenues The temporary placement firms based in the San Fernando Valley seem to have the same concern as peers throughout the industry: a challenging business environment that indicates a fall-off in revenues by the end of the year. While revenues reported for the first six months of 2001 for many of the leaders seem to trail just slightly figures for 2000, not taken into account is the general slowdown in the economy of the past few months nor the disastrous effects of Sept. 11. For instance, while Adecco (No. 1 on the list of top San Fernando Valley temporary placement firms) reports $42.4 million in revenue for the first six months of 2001 and $83.3 million for all of 2000, the foundering national economy leaves both the final half of the year and 2002 uncertain at best. While the leaders in the temporary placement firm are anticipating flat revenues for 2001, a few in the second half of the Business Journal’s list of temporary placement firms show substantial revenue growth. For instance, No. 7 Royal Staffing Services reported $4.25 million in sales for its operations based in the Valley for all of 2000 and $4.7 million for the first six months of 2001. THE PACESETTER – ADECCO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES It’s been a rough year in the temporary employment placement business, just as it has been elsewhere. That applies to Adecco Employment Services, the top agency in the San Fernando Valley and perhaps in the world, as much as it does to any others. With 65 full-time employees in seven Valley offices, Adecco anticipates a downturn in revenue this year (estimated at $42.4 million from Valley operations) from 2000’s total revenue of $83.3 million. Adecco supplies a number of industries with temporary workers, providing administrative, clerical, customer service and even manufacturing and warehouse workers. The company, which operates in 60 countries and had $26.6 billion in total revenue in 2000, jumped to the top of the heap not only in the San Fernando Valley but in most locations with its purchase of Olsten Corp., one of its biggest competitors, two years ago. Nevertheless, revenues in Adecco’s North American operations are down 16 percent in the last quarter, compared to a 20-percent growth in the rest of the world. Adecco CEO John Bowmer blames much of that on recent terrorist attacks. “The events of Sept. 11 in the U.S. made it even harder to predict the future,” Bowmer said. However, he also went on to note, “The severe revenue contraction in North America is being addressed by sensible cost containment.”