Following a sharp decline the week prior due to the Fourth of July holiday, staffing employment surged in the week of July 10–16, with the ASA Staffing Index increasing by 7.6% to a rounded value of 101. A few staffing companies listed a holiday as a barrier preventing further growth. Staffing jobs were 5.4% below the same week last year.
New starts in the 28th week of the year grew 26.1% from the prior week as nearly two-thirds of staffing companies (63%) reported gains in new assignments week to week.
“While temporary and contract hiring has fallen since last year, it’s still above prepandemic levels,” said Tim Hulley, ASA assistant director of research.
The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average held steady at a rounded value of 98, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending July 16 was 6.4% lower than the same period in 2022.
This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the July monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Aug. 4.