The Tools for Recovery study, published by international law firm Eversheds, found that 34 per cent of companies have made redundancies in the past 18 months, with these being most common in the UK, France, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
However, the report also showed that this trend could be set to end as many businesses are preparing to increase their investment in new workers, marketing activity and research and development to capitalise on the economic recovery.
Stephen Sorrell, partner at Eversheds, said the research was carried out to find out how the world's companies dealt with the recession and how they intend to recover from it.
'The findings show a very mixed picture in terms of confidence levels and the way in which businesses have tackled the challenging economic climate,' he concluded.
Last month, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies predicted that the UK job market faces an 'uncertain' future.
However, the report also showed that this trend could be set to end as many businesses are preparing to increase their investment in new workers, marketing activity and research and development to capitalise on the economic recovery.
Stephen Sorrell, partner at Eversheds, said the research was carried out to find out how the world's companies dealt with the recession and how they intend to recover from it.
'The findings show a very mixed picture in terms of confidence levels and the way in which businesses have tackled the challenging economic climate,' he concluded.
Last month, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development public policy adviser Gerwyn Davies predicted that the UK job market faces an 'uncertain' future.
