Business	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business	Business CDI Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “CDI”) seek to create extraordinary outcomes with its clients by delivering solutions based on highly skilled and professional talent. CDI’s business is comprised of four segments: Enterprise Talent, Specialty Talent and Technology Solutions, Engineering Solutions and Management Recruiters International (MRI). CDI’s client offerings include an array of engineering design project solutions, information technology project solutions and managed services, specialty technology staff augmentation, and program and managed staffing services. CDI's clients are corporations in multiple industries, including energy, chemicals, infrastructure, aerospace, industrial equipment, technology, as well as municipal and state governments, and the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense. CDI has offices and delivery centers in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, CDI provides recruiting and staffing services through its global MRINetwork^® of franchisees. In September 2016, the Company approved a restructuring plan to further align its organizational structure, facilities and resource utilization with business volumes and strategic direction. See Note—6 Restructuring and Other Related Costs. On September 16, 2016, CDI completed the sale of CDI AndersElite Limited, the Company's United Kingdom (UK) staffing and recruitment business included in the Enterprise Talent reporting segment. The Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 include the results of CDI AndersElite Limited for the period prior to disposition. See Note—7 Acquisitions and Dispositions. On September 16, 2016, the Company announced that Scott Freidheim, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), resigned from the Company effective September 15, 2016, and Michael Castleman, CDI’s Chief Financial Officer, was elected as President of the Company and agreed to serve as interim CEO.

Business

CDI Corp. and its subsidiaries (the “Company” or “CDI”) seek to create extraordinary outcomes with its clients by delivering solutions based on highly skilled and professional talent. CDI’s business is comprised of four segments: Enterprise Talent, Specialty Talent and Technology Solutions, Engineering Solutions and Management Recruiters International (MRI). CDI’s client offerings include an array of engineering design project solutions, information technology project solutions and managed services, specialty technology staff augmentation, and program and managed staffing services. CDI's clients are corporations in multiple industries, including energy, chemicals, infrastructure, aerospace, industrial equipment, technology, as well as municipal and state governments, and the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense. CDI has offices and delivery centers in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, CDI provides recruiting and staffing services through its global MRINetwork^® of franchisees.

In September 2016, the Company approved a restructuring plan to further align its organizational structure, facilities and resource utilization with business volumes and strategic direction. See Note—6 Restructuring and Other Related Costs.

On September 16, 2016, CDI completed the sale of CDI AndersElite Limited, the Company's United Kingdom (UK) staffing and recruitment business included in the Enterprise Talent reporting segment. The Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 include the results of CDI AndersElite Limited for the period prior to disposition. See Note—7 Acquisitions and Dispositions.

On September 16, 2016, the Company announced that Scott Freidheim, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), resigned from the Company effective September 15, 2016, and Michael Castleman, CDI’s Chief Financial Officer, was elected as President of the Company and agreed to serve as interim CEO.