The staffing industry continued its postpandemic expansion in 2022 as U.S. staffing companies employed an average of more than 2.8 million temporary and contract workers per week, according to the ASA Staffing Employment and Sales Survey. This marks an increase of 2.9% from 2.7 million workers per week in 2021, as the industry continues its recovery from the pandemic-induced low of just over two million workers per week in the second quarter of 2020.

During all of 2022, staffing companies hired a total of 14.6 million temporary and contract employees, up from the 14.1 million hired in 2021. The average length of employment with a staffing agency was largely unchanged from 10.1 weeks in 2021 to 10.0 weeks in 2022.

Total annual sales for the staffing industry totaled $159.1 billion in 2022, an increase of 10.3% from $144.2 billion in 2021 and a new record high.

“Through a year marked by economic and geopolitical uncertainty, the staffing industry remained a bright spot in the economy,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “The staffing industry is very proud of the role it played in the past year in helping more than 14 and a half million job seekers connect with meaningful work. And with nearly two job openings for every unemployed person in America, staffing companies continue to play an extremely important role in helping American businesses fill millions of job openings with the qualified they need.”