Trading Update

Hays PLC
14 December 2005


                                                                14 December 2005

                                    HAYS PLC

                                 TRADING UPDATE


Hays plc, the Specialist Recruitment Company, will announce its results for the
six months ending 31 December 2005 on 28 February 2006 and today issues the
following trading update.



Since the announcement of the preliminary results in September, the business has
continued to generate good growth, with net fees for the first half of the
financial year expected to be approximately 13% ahead of the same period last
year.



Australia & New Zealand and Continental Europe & Canada continued to generate
strong double-digit percentage growth. In the United Kingdom & Ireland the
business is expected to grow net fees at approximately 6% in the first half of
the financial year. Both temporary and permanent placement fees are ahead of the
same period last year.



The Group's performance for the year to 30 June 2006 continues to be in line
with the Board's expectations.



The Company has continued to make good progress with the ongoing share buy-back
programme. Since the start of the programme in November 2004 the Company has
acquired 218.4 million shares representing 12.6% of the share capital and has
returned £273.0 million to shareholders. Hays intends to enter into an
irrevocable non-discretionary arrangement to enable the repurchase of its own
shares during its close period. Any share purchases will be effected within
certain pre-set parameters, and in accordance with both the Company's general
authority to repurchase shares and the listing rules.





                                    - Ends -



Enquiries





John Martin             Finance Director, Hays plc        + 44 (0) 20 7628 9999

Richard Jackson         Investor Relations, Hays plc      + 44 (0) 20 7628 9999

Mike Smith              Brunswick                         + 44 (0) 20 7404 5959



Conference call



John Martin and Richard Jackson of Hays plc will conduct a conference call for
analysts and investors at 9.00am United Kingdom time on Wednesday 14 December
2005. The dial-in details are as follows:



Dial-in number                                            + 44 (0) 1452 561 263


The call will be recorded and available for playback for 7 days as follows:


Replay dial-in number                                     + 44 (0) 1452 550 000
Access code                                                 2590155#




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