Adecco's 'Where-the-Jobs-Are' Report Shows Increased Hiring in Nort

    Business Editors/Human Resources Writers

    CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2005--In conjunction with the North Carolina state unemployment report, Adecco (NYSE:ADO), the staffing industry's market leader in the U.S. and the world, today announced it is seeing increased demand for employees throughout the metropolitan Charlotte area. Charlotte is one of many locales across the country where Adecco is responding to a growing need for contingent workers from employers in a variety of industries.
    Susan Benoit, Regional Vice President at Adecco, says "We are seeing a steadily improving local economy, which has translated into increases in both temporary and direct hiring by Adecco for a wide spectrum of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, financial services and distribution and logistics."
    There are a variety of jobs available in the Charlotte area, particularly in the manufacturing and logistics sector, including quality managers, order selectors, forklift drivers, computer control operators and managers, front line supervisors and commercial vehicle drivers. Computer skills and customer service experience are also in high demand, and Adecco continues to place a large number of associates in administrative and sales positions.
    Job seekers should take note that in addition to traditional temporary hiring, Adecco branches are receiving more requests for temp-to-hire and direct hire candidates. People who take on temp-to-hire positions can potentially parlay their temporary assignment into a full-time position.
    Benoit comments, "The increased hiring activity we are experiencing really gives job applicants a great chance to take advantage of a flexible employment environment where both temporary and permanent positions are available in a myriad of jobs for a good variety of industries."
    Adecco releases its "Where the Jobs Are" report in conjunction with the state unemployment reports to provide more depth and breadth to the employment picture in selected regions. The report is based on interviews with Adecco recruiters across the country and consists of press releases that report on hiring trends in regions experiencing employment growth. The trends in these regions are not intended to be indicators of nationwide trends.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information in this release may involve guidance, expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to Adecco S.A. (the "Company") as of the date of this release, and we assume no duty to update any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the Company's forward-looking statements include, among other things: the outcome of investigations by governmental agencies or stock exchanges; the pace of economic recovery in various regions and the demand for temporary staffing; the impact and result of any litigation (including US class action litigation); any adverse developments in existing commercial relationships, disputes or legal proceedings; volatility of the Company's stock price; intense competition in the markets in which the Company competes; and negative reactions from the Company's shareholders, creditors or vendors with respect to any of the foregoing matters.
    The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from our current expectations. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 28, 2003, and other reports filed with or submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, for a further discussion of the factors and risks associated with our business.

    About Adecco

    Adecco S.A. is a Forbes 500 company and the global leader in HR Solutions. The Adecco Group network connects up to 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of 29,000 employees and 6,000 offices in 71 territories around the world. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, the Adecco Group delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.
    The Adecco Group comprises three Divisions: Adecco Staffing, Ajilon Professional and LHH Career Services. In Adecco Staffing, the Adecco network focuses on flexible staffing solutions for global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics and telecommunications; Ajilon Professional offers an unrivalled range of specialized branded businesses; LHH Career Services encompasses our portfolio of outplacement and coaching consultancy businesses.
    Adecco Staffing USA serves more than 70,000 clients a year through a nationwide network of almost 1,100 points of sales and service. With headquarters in Melville, NY, Adecco employs about 3,100 full-time employees and places more than 130,000 temporary associates each week. Adecco USA is a member of the American Staffing Association, an organization that promotes legal, ethical, and professional practices for the staffing industry.
    Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange with trading on Virt-x (SWX/VIRT-X:ADEN), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ADO) and Euronext Paris - Premier Marche (EURONEXT: ADE).

    Additional information is available at www.adeccousa.com.

--30--ML/ny*

CONTACT: Adecco Victoria Mitchell, 631-844-7412 victoria.mitchell@adeccona.com or On behalf of Adecco: Jesse Danzig, 212-279-3115 x213 jesse@cjpcom.com

KEYWORD: NORTH CAROLINA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HUMAN RESOURCES PRODUCT SOURCE: Adecco

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