Employment through agencies can play an important role in ensuring European Union (EU) policy goals are met.

This is according to the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (Eurociett), which has declared such roles enhance labor market participation.

It welcomed the main conclusions reached by a meeting of the EU Employment and Social Affairs Council earlier this month, but added there is a new need to "boost reforms".

In particular, the organization praised a focus on flexible work arrangements and flexicurity policies to improve participation.

Highlighting the potential offered by the agency recruitment sector, managing director of Eurociett Denis Pennel stated: "Private employment agencies are already playing a role in creating new jobs for a sustained recovery."

He pointed to a 22 per cent rise in hours worked by agency workers between December 2009 and the same month of 2010.

Eurociett recently put forward a series of seven policy recommendations to the European Commission, including exploring the potential of the sector to enhance employees' skills.

Posted by Alex Donnell