Staffing employment edged down in the week of Oct. 9–15, with the ASA Staffing Index decreasing by 0.1% to a rounded value of 100. Staffing companies listed no one primary factor that limited further growth. Staffing jobs were 7.2% below the same week last year.

New starts in the 41st week of the year inched up 0.9% from the prior week. Close to half of all staffing companies (45%) reported gains in new assignments week to week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased from the prior week to hold at a rounded value of 101, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Oct. 15 was 6.4% lower than the same period in 2022.

“Staffing employment has eased in October, though it remains above the lows we saw in the second quarter of the year,” said Tim Hulley, assistant research director at ASA.

This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the October monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Nov. 3.