RNA episode 161 has news for 19 May 2026, covering Ephram Stephnson's sudden online disappearance, the revolving door at the top of Adecco ANZ and company results for Ambition, Recruit Holdings and PERSOL. See why LinkedIn is pumping up their Hiring Assistant product and a depressing report on migrant worker exploitation in this country. In Question of the Week, we unpack the 2026 Federal Budget and how its likely impact on the recruitment sector. 

Episode 161 - How will the 2026 Federal budget affect the recruitment sector?

RNA episode 160 has news for 12 May 2026 covering the latest on the Hudson Aust administration, SEEK's latest product competing directly with their recruitment agency clients, Momentum Consulting in administration, positive news about New Zealand's labour market  and details on how you can hear Ross speak (and then sing!). Question of the Week covers the reasons Ross believes are the cause of Hudson's slide into administration. 

Episode 160 - Week 3 of the Hudson VA drama ...and the news gets worse

Cover news for the 5th of May 2026 covers  the first review in 16 years to the National Employment Standards, Jobs and Skills Australia's CEO forecasts how many Australian jobs AI will wipe out, UoQ research about younger workers' views of their older colleagues and Amazon moving into the recruitment sector. In Question of the Week, we follow up on last week's news about Hudson Australia's voluntary administration by answering additional questions about the VA process.

Episode 159 - What did we miss in explaining a company going into administration?

Episode 158 covers news for 28 April 2026, including compliance cracks, cooling demand, and shaky global performance. Hudson Australia enters administration, a Fair Work Ombudsman ruling put a spotlight on governance failures, while fresh data shows a clear shift in the market. Globally, the big staffing firms aren’t faring much better, with profits under pressure and outlooks turning cautious. Back home, SEEK data tells a similar story—job ads easing, but demand still holding in key sectors. Question of the Week is "When a recruitment agency goes into administration, what is the likely outcome?"

Episode 158 - When a recruitment agency goes into administration what is the likely outcome?

This week we unpack a resilient but fragile labour market as unemployment holds at 4.3% with a shift back to full-time jobs while economists warn the real impact of global shocks is still to come. We dive into mixed results from major recruiters  Hays, PageGroup and Robert Walters, revealing ongoing pressure across the sector despite pockets of growth. We also look ahead to the industry’s big night out at the RCSA Rec Gala, question the loss of independence as Sourcr is absorbed into SEEK, and examine a serious legal case brought by the Fair Work Ombudsman over alleged exploitation of a migrant worker, another stark reminder of the compliance risks facing employers today. Question of the Week is, "How do you entice a candidate to change jobs in an uncertain economy?"

Episode 157 - How do you entice a candidate to change jobs in an uncertain economy?

RNA episode 156 has news for 14 April 2026, including the sad passing of an industry legend, a brand refresh for Six Degrees, news of the US job market and BHP's Same Job Same Pay ruling that will change the landscape of labour hire forever.  Question of the Week is, "Is old school recruiting becoming new school?

Episode 156 - Is old school recruiting becoming new school?

Episode 155 - News includes Christy Moses stepping into the CEO role at Miller Leith, with Stephen Borg, Joe Sette, and Jarrad Dowling all part of a broader leadership transition. We also looked at new data from GCheck showing just how widespread candidate exaggeration and AI-assisted deception have become in hiring, before unpacking the controversy around the Canberra Institute of Technology CEO appointment involving Margot McNeill  and Executive Intelligence Group. We discuss to opportunities regional recruitment provides to the sector.

Episode 155 - Is regional recruitment the next growth area for recruitment agencies?

News this week:

 * Australia’s hiring market remains active with rising recruitment and easing difficulty, but declining job ads and softer forward confidence signal growing caution.
 * The Coalition is proposing tougher migration and visa rules, reflecting shifting political pressure and a harder stance on population growth.
 * A global report links hundreds of major companies to alleged migrant worker abuse, highlighting urgent calls for supply chain transparency and accountability.
 * Global hiring intentions have surged to a four-year high, led by strong momentum across Asia-Pacific, including solid demand in Australia.
 * SEEK data shows Australian job ads continue to fall amid broad caution, while New Zealand’s market rebounds sharply and AI is not yet a major drag on hiring

Episode 154 - Are university degrees becoming less important in white-collar hiring?

RNA episode 153 has news for 24 March featuring Quest Personnel entering administration, the ABS reporting a surprise jump in unemployment, to the NSW Government turning back to recruiters, growing scrutiny of AI screening tools, and a regulatory crackdown on sham contracting. Question of the Week is "Should Ai recruiter bots have a human face?"

Episode 153 - Should AI recruiter bots have a human face?

Episode 152 has news for 17 March 2026 features labour hire scandals to leadership blind spots and changing work patterns. Coles Group is under scrutiny over whether it should have known a labour hire firm was underpaying security guards, new research from Robert Walters reveals a striking perception gap between men and women on leadership inequality, and fresh data from the ABS shows nearly a million Australians are now juggling multiple jobs — suggesting the way people work is quietly shifting. We also have the latest financial results from Korn Ferry and Robert Walters. Question of the Week, "is Melbourne the most liveable city in the world?" Two local residents have their say.

Episode 152 - Is Melbourne the most liveable city in the world?

This weekly podcast, featuring recruitment industry experts Ross Clennett and Adele Last, covers relevant news and tackles a topical question each week. 

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Ross Clennett

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