UPDATE 1-Randstad Q1 core profit down 73 pct

* Underlying EBITA 49.2 mln euros vs estimate 46 mln

* Too early to say U.S. staffing, inhouse services at bottom

* Q2 revenue may decline at an increased rate

(Adds detail, background)

AMSTERDAM, April 24 (Reuters) - Dutch staffing company Randstad NV (RAND.AS) reported a 73 percent drop in core profit on Friday, hurt by the recession and said it was too early to conclude that one of its key markets has bottomed out.

First quarter earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA), excluding extraordinary items and integration costs, was 49.2 million euros ($64.1 million) beating the average forecast of 46 million euros from a Reuters poll of 10 analysts. Last year, the company's EBITA was 180.3 million euros for the same period.

The world's second-largest jobs company by sales said the decline in its U.S. staffing and inhouse services was stable through the first quarter.

"We believe it is too early to conclude that this segment has bottomed out," the company said in a statement, adding that it did not rule out its group second quarter revenues could decline at a faster rate compared with last year.

Earlier this week the Netherlands' second staffing company USG People (USGP.AS) reported first-quarter results below market expectations and earlier this month British recruiter Michael Page (MPI.L) posted a sharp decline in its first-quarter profit.

Randstad's revenue for the first three months of 2009 fell 28 percent to 3.06 billion euros. Analysts had projected turnover of 3.2 billion euros.

Randstad acquired Dutch rival Vedior last year for 3.2 billion euros. ($1=.7678 Euro)

(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde)

(harro.tenwolde@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: harro.tenwolde.reuters.com@reuters.net; +31 20 504 5017)