Data Watch

Jobs Hold Steady in U.S Staffing Firms in 2007

Sales in the U.S. temporary and contract staffing industry reached an all-time high in 2007, according to the American Staffing Association. The association estimates that temporary and contract staffing sales reached $73.5 billion last year, a 1.6% increase over 2006 sales. Temporary and contract employment at U.S. staffing firms remained flat over the year, averaging 2.96 million workers per day in both 2006 and 2007. “Even with last year’s growing uncertainty over the economy and increasing unemployment rate, America’s staffing companies maintained a steady level of employment in 2007,” says ASA president and CEO Richard Wahlquist. “This is good news for anyone looking for work. America’s businesses continue to turn 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 over 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. Based on data from ASA quarterly surveys, the association estimates that America’s staffing companies employed a total of 11.4 million temporary and contract workers during 2007. Approximately 3.9 million of those employees secured permanent jobs.

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