Online Community

ASA Central

A dynamic online community for ASA members to exchange ideas and best practices, and connect with industry peers in their sector. Visit the site ›
Find Goods & Services

ASA Marketplace

This powerful online resource enables staffing companies to find and access industry supplier information, products and services. Visit the site ›
Daily Publication

Staffing Today Newsletter

Your #1 daily source for news about the workforce industry. With versions available to members and nonmembers. Visit the site ›
Health Care Reform

Affordable Care Act Resources for Staffing

Up-to-date news, resources, interactive tools, and more—all focused on helping ASA members comply with the ACA. Visit the site ›
Advertisers & Exhibitors

Staffing Industry Suppliers

ASA has numerous and diverse marketing opportunities available to help you reach the rapidly growing staffing industry. Visit the site ›
Exclusive Products

ASA Store

From certification packages and study guides to marketing tools and data reports, ASA resources add value to your business. Visit the site ›

Census: Economy Showing Signs It’s Finally Bottomed Out

CBS News (09/20/12)

New 2011 census data being released today is a hopeful sign in an economic recovery that technically began in mid-2009. Supplemented with unpublished government figures as of the end of this year’s first quarter, the annual survey covers a year in which unemployment fell modestly from 9.6% to 8.9%. On the downside, the jobless rate remains stubbornly high at 8.1% and homeownership fell for a fifth consecutive year to 64.6%—the lowest in over a decade. More Americans than ever are also turning to food stamps. Taken as a whole, however, analysts say the latest census data provide broad-sweeping proof of a stabilizing U.S. economy.

Andrew Cherlin, a professor of sociology and public policy at Johns Hopkins University, points in particular to the upswing in mobility and to young males moving out of their parents’ homes—two signs that more young adults are testing out job prospects. He concludes, “We may be seeing the beginning of the American family’s recovery from the Great Recession. It could be the modest number of new jobs or simply the belief that the worst is over.”