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BLS: Staffing Employment Up 7.7% From a Year Ago

Seasonally adjusted employment data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed staffing employment increased by 13,600 jobs from September to October (up 0.5%). In a year-to-year comparison, temporary help employment for the month was 7.7% higher than in October 2011. Over the previous 12 months, the temporary help industry has added an average of 15,400 per month to the economy.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that the staffing industry added 56,800 jobs (up 2.2%) from September to October. On a year-to-year basis, there were 7.2% more staffing employees in October compared with the same month in 2011.

“Staffing employment growth continues to outpace overall labor market growth as businesses look strategically for higher levels of work force flexibility,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “Staffing firms report growth in demand across many sectors, led by increases in demand for higher-skilled talent.”

Overall U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 171,000 jobs in October, up 0.1% from September. Since the beginning of the year, employment growth has averaged 157,000 per month.

Employment growth was mostly driven by new job creation in professional and business services (+51,000) with one-fourth of this growth attributed to temporary help services. Job gains were also led by health care (+31,000), retail trade (+36,000), leisure and hospitality (+28,000), and construction (+17,000). Employment declines were noted in the mining sector (-9,000). Employment in other major industries, including manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and government, showed little change over the September to October period.

The overall U.S. unemployment rate showed little change from September, increasing 0.1% to 7.9% in October.

AMN Healthcare Announces Third Quarter 2012 Results

AMN Healthcare Services News Release (11/01/12)

AMN Healthcare Services Inc. has announced third quarter 2012 financial results, which exceeded the company’s guidance. The company generated consolidated revenue of $244 million for the quarter, an increase of 7% from the same quarter last year and 3% sequentially. Third quarter revenue for the nurse and allied health care staffing segment was $166 million, up 13% from the same quarter last year and 5% sequentially. The locum tenens staffing segment generated revenue in the third quarter of $68 million, a decrease of 6% from the same quarter last year and flat sequentially. Third quarter physician permanent placement services revenue was $10 million, an increase of 9% from the same quarter last year and 4% sequentially.

Manufacturers Notch Modest Gains

Wall Street Journal (11/02/12) Josh Mitchell

The Institute for Supply Management’s factory order index rose slightly from 51.5 in September to 51.7 in October. A measure of new orders rose two percentage points to 54.2, an indication that demand is increasing and factories will likely need to increase production in the coming months. Despite the expansion of orders, manufacturers remain cautious about hiring and face an ongoing downturn in exports.

Outpace the Competition in 2013—ASAPro Webinar Next Week

Hear what more than 5,000 staffing firm clients, job seekers, and internal staff have to say about the staffing industry—and what your firm can do to increase awareness, loyalty, referrals, and retention. Attend the ASAPro Webinar “Outpace the Competition in 2013: A Guide to Staffing Clients, Job Candidates, and Internal Staff,” Tuesday, Nov. 6, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time. To help you position your firm for success in the coming year, Eric Gregg of ASA corporate partner Inavero will share the results of recent industry research conducted by Inavero with ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder.

ASAPro Webinars are free for ASA members and qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. Register online at americanstaffing.net.