Hunt Scanlon Media Releases Upbeat Report On Executive Recruiting Sector

GREENWICH, Conn., March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunt Scanlon Media today released its annual rankings of leading executive search firms. In the U.S. and globally, billions of dollars poured into the high-end recruitment sector in 2024, despite an economically challenging year.

"The recruiting sector found stability and recovery in 2024," said Evan Berta, chief market analyst at Hunt Scanlon. "Growth rates topped out at six percent, and the stage has been set for a strong run ahead."

Fee revenue at the 50 largest search firms in the U.S./Americas reached $6.041billion, according to Hunt Scanlon. More than half (59 percent) of search firms reported positive growth, while 20 firms reported double digit gains.

"Recruiting specialists focused on securing talent in private equity, technology, healthcare, and financial services showed the biggest gains in growth," said Mr. Berta.

Pivot to Acquisitions

Hunt Scanlon forecasts the recruiting sector to grow by double digits in 2025, with demand for talent expected to surge in the second half of the year.

"The supply of top drawer leaders is tightening," said Scott A. Scanlon, a Hunt Scanlon co-founder who oversees the firm's M&A advisory group. "That will translate into a big year ahead for recruiters," he noted.

"With an improving environment, search firm founders and their management teams will lean more heavily on strategic growth partners to fund and scale their operations," said Mr. Scanlon. "The good news is that PE firms and strategic acquirers continue making major bets on investing in this space."

According to Hunt Scanlon, 58 percent of industrywide founders polled last month expressed interest in considering a potential sale of their business. "That robust pipeline is fueling the recent rise in M&A deal making activity," said Mr. Scanlon, "and setting the stage for heavy consolidation ahead." 

Hunt Scanlon Report Highlights:

• The Hunt Scanlon 'Top 50' U.S. Recruiting Firms produced $6.041 billion in fees generated, a six percent rise.
• The Hunt Scanlon 'Big 5' Global Recruiting Firms reported $6.863 billion in professional fees, a record-breaking year.
• A wave of consolidations and a surge in M&A activity will fuel market share growth and innovation in 2025 and extend into 2030.
• Growth in interim solutions, a jump in fractional talent requisitions, an upswing in AI-enabled leadership assessments, and an upsurge in executive coaching and culture consulting services will fuel adjacent growth in the broader human capital sector.

To view Hunt Scanlon's latest rankings, visit: https://huntscanlon.com/top-50/.

About Hunt Scanlon

Hunt Scanlon Media has been informing the executive recruiting and senior talent management sector for over 35 years. Our global news and market intelligence data comes in many forms, including daily newswires, talent leadership reports, newsletter briefings, rankings, global executive leadership conferences, and social media alerts.

Contact: Evan Berta
Chief Market Analyst
[email protected] 

Hunt Scanlon Ventures offers a full range of critical M&A solutions to guide founders and management teams to successful transitions and exits. Our advisory team has a singular focus on the human capital markets, assisting clients in M&A strategy development, valuation analysis, sourcing, growth strategy, transition services, and exit planning.

Contact: Drew Seaman
Managing Director
[email protected] 

SOURCE Hunt Scanlon Media