U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 3.15 million temporary and contract workers per week in the second quarter of 2014, up 5.6% from the same period in 2013, according to data released today by the American Staffing Association. Average weekly employment April through June of this year was higher than in any second quarter since 2006, when it was 3.18 million.

“Staffing firm employment is just getting back to prerecession levels as businesses are finally feeling more confident in the economy and in sustainable increases in demand for their products and services,” says Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “And, with 4.7 million job openings in the U.S., job seekers with marketable skills should also be encouraged by the increasing number of employment opportunities across many sectors.”