This IDC study examines the competitive landscape and provides a five-year forecast for the worldwide and U.S. HR services market. In 2004, the economy showed further signs of recovery, although the growth in HR services in the United States did not grow as dramatically in 2004 as it did in 2003. This is largely due to the fact that 2002 was a very slow year for HR services in the United States because of the events of 9/11 and the resulting market rebound in 2003.

"The worldwide market for HR services showed moderate growth in 2004, although the market has seen some consolidation," said Lisa Rowan, program manager for HR Management and Staffing Services at IDC. "HR service providers have an opportunity to grow their businesses through the pursuit of several strategies, including expanding their offerings to encompass workforce optimization capabilities, delivering meaningful HR metrics, and simplifying their pricing models."