Staffing employment for the week of Dec. 6–12 edged up 0.7% from the previous week, increasing the ASA Staffing Index to a rounded value of 108. This marks the thirteenth consecutive week in which the index has measured 100 or greater, an achievement that has only occurred once before in 2014. Several staffing firms cited seasonal business fluctuations and Covid-19 as factors limiting further growth in temporary and contract staffing employment. There were 18.3% more staffing jobs compared with the same week in 2020.
Following the prior week’s surge, new starts contracted 8.4% on average, with a third of staffing companies reporting gains in new assignments week-to-week.
This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the December monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Jan. 7.