General Employment Reports First Quarter Results

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Jan. 28  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- General Employment Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: JOB) reported consolidated net revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 of $2,887,000, compared with revenues of $3,964,000 reported for the same period last year. Contract service revenues for the quarter were $1,545,000, down 14% from the same period last year. Placement service revenues of $1,342,000 decreased 38% from last year.

The Company reported a net loss of $776,000, or $.15 per share, in the first fiscal quarter of this year, compared with a net loss of $227,000, or $.04 per share, in the first quarter last year.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr., board chairman and CEO said, "The demand for our placement services during the quarter was depressed by employment conditions throughout the country, as employers announced substantial layoffs and 1.5 million Americans lost their jobs. It was an extremely challenging environment in which to make placements."

Mr. Imhoff, Jr. continued, "One of the measures that we took during the quarter to improve performance in the future was to engage an outside consultant to assist us in the development of our contract business. We believe that the consulting services will help to grow our business on a long- term basis."

CEO Compensation to be Reduced

The Company announced today that it will be reducing the compensation of the chief executive officer and the vice president of operations for the calendar year 2009. The changes represent a 31% reduction in compensation for the CEO and an 18% reduction for the vice president.

Mr. Imhoff, Jr. added, "The executive compensation reductions announced today, together with other actions taken in recent months to reduce headcount, will reduce the administrative payroll at the corporate office by 22%, compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008."

Company Consolidates Phoenix Area Offices

The Company also announced today that it consolidated its Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona offices, which will result in a lower combined headcount and reduced expenses.

Business Information

General Employment provides professional staffing services through a network of 16 branch offices located in nine states, and specializes in information technology, accounting and engineering placements.

The Company's business is highly dependent on national employment trends in general and on the demand for professional staff in particular. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company's business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or by extrapolating past results. Some of the factors that could affect the Company's future performance include, but are not limited to, general business conditions, the demand for the Company's services, competitive market pressures, the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified personnel for regular full-time placement and contract assignments, the possibility of incurring liability for the Company's business activities, including the activities of contract employees and events affecting its contract employees on client premises, and the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified corporate and branch management.

                   GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                     (In Thousands, Except Per Share)

                                                         Three Months
                                                       Ended December 31

                                                      2008           2007
  Net revenues:
    Contract services                               $1,545         $1,802
    Placement services                               1,342          2,162

    Net revenues                                     2,887          3,964
  Cost of contract services                          1,036          1,235
  Selling, general and administrative expenses       2,556          3,006

  Loss from operations                                (705)          (277)
  Investment income (loss)                             (71)            50

  Net loss(1)                                        $(776)         $(227)

  Average number of shares - basic and diluted       5,165          5,159

  Net loss per share - basic and diluted             $(.15)         $(.04)

  (1) There were no credits for income taxes as a result of the pretax
      losses during the periods, because there was not sufficient assurance

      that future tax benefits would be realized.



                   GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.
            SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
                              (In Thousands)

                                               December 31   September 30
                                                      2008           2008
  Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                       $3,157         $4,165
    Other current assets                             1,422          1,627

    Total current assets                             4,579          5,792
    Property and equipment, net                        735            791
    Other assets                                       351            419

    Total assets                                    $5,665         $7,002

  Liabilities and shareholders' equity:
    Current liabilities                              1,005         $1,507
    Other liabilities                                  351            419
    Shareholders' equity                             4,309          5,076

    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity      $5,665         $7,002


DATASOURCE: General Employment Enterprises, Inc.



CONTACT:  Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and President

of General Employment Enterprises, Inc., [phone], Fax,

[phone], 



Web site:  http://www.generalemployment.com/ 



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