As temporary staffing market picks up, Adecco goes on a buying spree

Adecco (AHEXY), the world's largest supplier of temporary workers, has offered $1.3 billion in cash to buy MPS Group (MPS), which is based in Jacksonville, Fl. Switzerland-based Adecco wants MPS because it focuses on premium jobs in technology, finance, legal, engineering and health care. MPS is Adecco's fourth takeover target since last month, as it looks for a bigger footprint in the higher-end professional staffing market.

Temporary staffing is just starting to show improvement after eleven consecutive quarters of decline, according to G. Palmer & Associates. "Our 2009 fourth quarter forecast, as expected, shows another anticipated decline in demand for temporary workers -- a trend marking eleven consecutive quarters that we now believe will continue through early 2010. However, the percentage decline is sharply reduced when compared with the rates of decline in the previous quarters earlier this year," Greg Palmer said in a press statement.