Staffing employment for the week of March 8–14 was relatively unchanged (+0.05%) from the prior week, according to the ASA Staffing Index, yet there were 11.2% more staffing jobs compared with the same week in 2020. The ongoing effects of Covid-19 were mentioned as a factor limiting even further growth. Four in 10 staffing firms (46%) reported increases in temporary and contract employment.
New starts were down 6.4% on average, with three in 10 staffing companies (32%) reporting gains in new assignments week-to-week.
“While the upward trend in staffing jobs that appeared to be emerging last month has flattened, temporary and contract employment is holding steady at levels well above the start of the pandemic in 2020,” said Cynthia Davidson, senior director of research for the American Staffing Association.
This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the March monthly employment situation report, which is scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics April 2.