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BLS: Staffing Job Growth Remains Strong

Seasonally adjusted employment data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that temporary help services added 24,400 new jobs in February (up 0.9% from January). In a year-to-year comparison, staffing firms employed 8.9% more temporary workers in February than in the same month a year ago, according to BLS.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that staffing employment increased by 35,000 in February (up 1.3% from January and better than February’s historical average increase of 0.6%). On a year-to-year basis, there were 10.0% more staffing employees in February than in the same month last year.

“The staffing industry continues to help create employment opportunities in an environment when businesses remain cautious in hiring,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “Staffing and recruiting firms enhance workforce flexibility and provide access to talent across the full spectrum of occupations.”

Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 jobs in February, BLS reported. Monthly job gains averaged 189,000 in the prior 12 months. The unemployment rate increased from 6.6% to 6.7% in February.

Korn Ferry Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 Results of Operations

Korn/Ferry International News Release (03/06/14)

Korn Ferry reported total revenues of $251 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, up 19.4% from $210.3 million during the same period in fiscal 2013. Net income totaled $21.3 million, up 124.2% from $9.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

By segment, total revenue was $149.7 million for executive recruitment, up 10.3% from $135.7 million; $64.3 million for leadership and talent consulting, up 49.2% from $43.1 million; and $37 million for Futurestep, up 17.5% from $31.5 million. North American fee revenue totaled $77.2 million for executive recruitment, up 8.3% from $71.3 million.

U.S. Factory Orders, Shipments Fall in January

Reuters (03/06/14)

New orders for factory goods fell 0.7% in January, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.4% drop. December’s orders declined 2.0%, revised from the previous report of 1.5%.

Shipments of new orders also fell in January, for the second consecutive month. Factories are idling as businesses work through excess stock; cold weather also has reduced business activity.

MyCrowd Aims to Create Marketplace for Freelance Projects

TechCrunch (03/05/14) Pankaj Mishra

The startup MyCrowd enables companies to find freelancers for particular tasks through Google Docs, PowerPoint, and other applications with a single click. MyCrowd is raising $500,000 in a seed round from unnamed angel investors so it can add more connectors, such as Evernote, and broaden its existing base of 10 million specialists to become the biggest marketplace for freelance projects in the world.

Free ASAPro Webinar Next Week—Collaborate With Buyers to Close Deals

The mantra “always be closing” may be doing more harm than good and even perpetuating the mistrust of salespeople. Learn new approaches that attract buyers instead of prompting defensive postures during the ASAPro webinar “The New ABCs of Selling—How to Get Buyers to Sell Themselves on Buying From You.” It takes place Tuesday, March 11, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time.

All ASAPro webinars are free for ASA members, and most qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. To learn more and to register, visit americanstaffing.net.

Welcome New ASA Members

The ASA board of directors and staff welcome the following new members, which joined during the week of Feb. 24.

Key Personnel

Fort Worth, TX

Reichard Staffing

Jacksonville, FL

Staff Right Solutions

Paterson, NJ