Business Week's No. 17 - Robert Half International

No. 17: Robert Half International

Industry: Employment Services
Sales: $4.6 billion
Net Income: $296.2 million

In a Sarbanes-Oxley world, accounting knowledge remains in demand. That's the sweet spot for Robert Half (RHI), the Menlo Park (Calif.) staffing company, where finding gigs for accountants and finance professionals makes up 60% of sales. Of late, CEO Harold Messmer Jr. has focused on foreign markets, adding offices throughout Continental Europe. Clients there are particularly hot for permanent recruits, which has become the fastest-growing segment of Robert Half's business, soaring 32%, to $444 million of its record $4.6 billion in sales last year. It helps, too, that Robert Half deals with more-educated workers. In the U.S., the overall unemployment rate is near 5%, but the rate is closer to 2% for college grads.