Employment equality legislation due to come into force next year will mean that even small companies will have to improve their human resource standards to comply with best practice, according to the latest edition of the Irish Recruitment Directory.

The 1998 edition, published this weekend, says that more stringent legislation, combined with growing skill shortages in some sectors will make recruitment more difficult - especially for smaller companies. The directory lists all recruitment agencies in the Republic, ranging from the Civil Service Commission and large private sector companies like the Marlborough Group to much smaller and specialised operations.

Advertising and maintaining lists of potential applicants are still the most widespread means of filling vacancies.