Jobs Hold Steady In America's Staffing Firms

Sales in the U.S. temporary and contract staffing industry reached an all-time high in 2007, according to economic survey data released today by the American Staffing Association.

The association estimates that temporary and contract staffing sales reached $73.5 billion last year, a 1.6 percent increase over 2006 sales. Temporary and contract employment at U.S. staffing firms remained flat during the year, averaging 2.96 million workers per day in both 2006 and 2007.

"Even with last year's growing uncertainty concerning the economy and increasing unemployment rate, America's staffing companies continued a steady pace of hiring in 2007," says ASA president and chief executive officer Richard Wahlquist. "This is good news for anyone looking for work. America's businesses continue to look to staffing companies for work force flexibility and access to talent."

The ASA Staffing Index, which measures temporary and contract employment on a weekly basis, was similarly flat during the same time period. The index, which is still in development, provides an earlier look at trends in the industry throughout the course of the year.

Fourth quarter data show a 0.4 percent increase in staffing employment from the third quarter of 2007 and a 0.3 perent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2006. Temporary and contract staffing sales in the fourth quarter totaled $18.7 billion, up 0.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2006.

source: American staffing association