Reporting Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 220,260		$ 244,662		$ 680,477	$ 748,941
Gross profit	40,533		46,827		125,903	140,244
Operating profit	(17,921)		(22,129)		(28,202)	(19,786)
Other income (expense), net	(112)		683		(713)	599
Income before income taxes	(18,033)		(21,446)		(28,915)	(19,187)
Loss on disposition of business interests	11,301		0		11,301	310
Impairment	0		21,537		0	21,537
Restructuring and other related costs	3,478		566		3,767	613
Proceeds from sale of assets					36	1,220
Assets	313,941				313,941		$ 339,097
Depreciation and amortization	2,404		2,299		8,111	7,311
Enterprise Talent Solutions [Member] | CDI AndersElite Limited Disposition [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss on disposition of business interests					11,301
Revenue	15,835		25,812		59,302	79,972
Gross Profit	2,446		4,504		9,758	13,507
Operating and administrative expenses	2,874		4,755		11,542	14,545
Operating loss	(428)		(251)		(1,784)	(1,058)
Depreciation and amortization	100		100		400	500
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Impairment				$ 21,500
Operating Segments [Member] | Enterprise Talent Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	127,488		146,863		400,617	457,681
Gross profit	13,848		18,165		45,763	55,751
Operating profit	(10,299)		(8,955)		(9,622)	(1,686)
Impairment				10,700
Restructuring and other related costs	331		331		433	378
Assets	121,862				121,862		137,695
Depreciation and amortization	278		259		909	925
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Talent and Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	18,938		7,724		56,460	23,315
Gross profit	5,626		2,422		16,448	7,579
Operating profit			188			1,357
Restructuring and other related costs	215		0		215	0
Assets	39,531				39,531		40,127
Depreciation and amortization	522		88		2,176	233
Operating Segments [Member] | Specialty Talent and Technology [Member] | EdgeRock Technologies, LLC [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(575)	$ 800			(566)
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineering Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	60,852		76,570		185,259	227,937
Gross profit	14,859		19,624		45,112	57,257
Operating profit	(3,856)		(10,123)		(8,734)	(9,613)
Impairment				10,900
Restructuring and other related costs	2,504		235		2,690	235
Assets	88,294				88,294		93,810
Depreciation and amortization	1,117		1,431		3,585	4,447
Operating Segments [Member] | Engineering Solutions [Member] | CDI-Pycopsa Disposition [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss on disposition				$ 300
Operating Segments [Member] | MRI [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	12,982		13,505		38,141	40,008
Gross profit	6,200		6,616		18,580	19,657
Operating profit	1,102		1,927		2,766	4,957
Restructuring and other related costs	206		0		206	0
Assets	23,023				23,023		23,273
Depreciation and amortization	73		65		205	227
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit	(4,293)		(5,166)		(12,046)	(14,801)
Restructuring and other related costs	222		0		223	0
Gain on sale of non-operating corporate asset			800
Proceeds from sale of assets			1,200
Assets	41,231				41,231		$ 44,192
Depreciation and amortization	$ 414		$ 456		$ 1,236	$ 1,479