Staffing jobs rose 2.1% year-to-year in the third quarter of 2022, and U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.8 million temporary and contract workers per week, according to data released today by ASA. Temporary and contract staffing sales totaled $39.0 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 7.9% from the third quarter of 2021.

“Demand for staffing services remains healthy amid a tight labor market and continued economic uncertainty,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “U.S. businesses recognize that staffing companies are uniquely equipped to meet the hiring challenges of today and provide them with the workers and the workforce agility they need to compete, grow, and thrive in the year ahead.”

Staffing employment and sales have historically seen quarter-to-quarter gains following first quarter declines. Third-quarter data have shown a slight deviation from this trend—staffing jobs edged down by 0.3% (about 9,000 jobs) quarter-to-quarter, but temporary and contract staffing sales grew by 1.4%.