Recruitment group CPL Resources made pretax profits of €5.9 million for the six months to the end of December, up 31 per cent on the same period in 2011.

The Dublin and London listed company said revenue rose by 13 per cent to €161.7 million, while operating profits grew by 37 per cent to €5.8 million.

The company also reported a 55 per cent increase in earnings per share to 16.96 cent.

Chairman John Hennessey said CPL Resources had increased the number of people placed with its clients from 7,853 in June 2012 to 8,500 in December 2012.

“Although our principal markets remain difficult, many employers in these markets continue to experience mismatches between the skills they need and those that are available,” Mr Hennessey said.

“There is a general oversupply of people available for work, but at the same time there is an undersupply of specific skills that are in demand,” he said.