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Staffing Employment Sees Best First Quarter in Eight Years

U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.96 million temporary and contract workers per week in the first quarter of 2014, up 3.2% from the same period in 2013, according to data released today by the American Staffing Association. Despite the extraordinary winter weather that adversely affected days worked in much of the U.S., average weekly employment this January through March was higher than in any first quarter since 2006, when it was 3.10 million.

“Businesses continue to turn to staffing companies for flexible workforce solutions and to add staff to keep up with growing demand,” says Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “That means more temporary and long term opportunities for job seekers as more staffing employees bridge to permanent jobs.”

Temporary and contract staffing sales totaled $26.64 billion in the first quarter of 2014, 2.6% higher than in the same period last year.

Staffing employment and sales typically peak in the fourth quarter, decline in the first quarter, and grow in subsequent quarters. That seasonal pattern meant that staffing jobs were down 7.0% (224,300 employees) from the fourth quarter to the first, and sales declined 5.9% ($1.67 billion).

GDP Contracted at 1% Pace in First Quarter

Wall Street Journal (05/29/14) Ben Leubsdorf; Sarah Portlock

U.S. gross domestic product fell a seasonally adjusted 1.0% in the first quarter, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had forecast a decline of 0.6% for the quarter. The contraction was the first seen in two years, when GDP fell at a 1.3% pace in the first quarter of 2011.

Jobless Claims in U.S. Decreased 27,000 Last Week to 300,000

Bloomberg (05/29/14) Victoria Stilwell

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the week ended May 24 fell by 27,000 to 300,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The 50 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast claims of 318,000. The four-week moving average dropped by 11,250 to 311,500, the lowest since August 2007, prior to the recession.

Debut ASA State of the Industry Webinar Free for Nonmembers

Join the American Staffing Association and corporate partner Inavero for the debut ASA State of the Industry webinar. It’s the first in a new quarterly series especially for staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions companies.

The ASA State of the Industry webinar takes place Wednesday, June 11, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time. It’s FREE and qualifies for 1.0 active continuing education hour toward ASA certification renewal.

Free ASAPro Webinar Next Week—Managing the Generation Gap

Technology, socioeconomic shifts, and globalization have changed your business. Find out about new trends that are affecting your ability to recruit, screen, and retain employees during the ASAPro webinar “Generation Gaps, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Workforce.” It takes place Thursday, June 5, 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.