Some of the biggest global players in the recruitment industry have lost close to or more than half their value over the past year, with Hudson and Randstad-Vedior suffering the worst of the share price dives among the international stocks.

Hudson's stock on the NASDAQ has fallen 62.9% over the past year, down to $US5.38 per share this morning ($A8.10).

When Randstad and Vedior began discussions about a possible takeover in November 2007, they had market caps of €3.7 billion and €2.7 billion respectively.

Today, the merged entity has a share price of €14.19 ($A29) on the Euronext exchange, and a market cap of about €2.4 billion ($A4.9b) - 62.5% lower than its combined value late last year.

Manpower, on the New York Stock Exchange, lost 55.3% of its value over the past 12 months, down to $US31.19 ($A47.16) today.

Adecco, listed with the Swiss Exchange, lost 47.9% in value over the year, to a share price of 39.48 Swiss francs today ($A52.42).

Hays' share price on the London Stock Exchange has dropped 47.7% year-on-year to £71.50 ($A184.33) today.

Michael Page, also on the London Stock Exchange, is currently at £2.02 ($A5.19), having lost 54.4% of its share value during the year.

Meanwhile, the major local recruitment stocks have borne even steeper falls in their market caps.

Chandler Macleod has lost more than three quarters of its value - down 76.5% on a year ago, to 20 cents a share this morning.

Talent2 has not fared much better, its stock falling 72.4% year-on-year to 80 cents today.

Clarius has seen its share price drop 70.5% over the past 12 months to 96 cents today.

SKILLED's share price has fallen 60.2% in the same period, to $2.15 today.

"This article was originally published in Shortlist, 13 October 2008. Shortlist's editorial team includes some of the most experienced human resources journalists in Australia. Shortlist has been writing about the recruiting industry for years and Shortlist is the number one source of information for both corporate recruiters and recruitment companies. Shortlist is published by Specialist News Pty Ltd. Specialist News Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned company that provides high-quality, cost-effective business information using modern technology. And, importantly, Shortlist is completely independent from recruitment companies or industry associations, major media groups, unions, employer associations and government.”