Zurich - The weak global economy has affected third-quarter profits at the world's largest recruitment firm, Adecco, sending them sharply down by 23 per cent compared to the same quarter of 2007, to 168 million euros (212 million dollars).

Revenue dropped by 6 per cent over the same period to 5.1 billion euros, the company reported Tuesday in Zurich.

Revenue fell by 9 per cent in the United States and Canada, the second most important market.

While revenue fell in almost every developed market, emerging economies saw double-digit growth at 16 per cent.

The company said it would buy France's Datavance, a recruitment company specialized in IT professionals. (dpa)