Staffing employment edged up in the week of Dec. 9–15, with the ASA Staffing Index increasing by 0.3% to a rounded value of 89, where it has hovered for much of the year. Staffing jobs were 8.9% below the same week last year, an improvement over the year-to-year gap of 10.0% observed in the prior week.

New starts grew in the 50th week of the year, rising 8.5% from the prior week. Four in 10 staffing companies (40%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, just shy of the average of 41% for the year.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average inched down from the prior week but held at a rounded value of 88, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Dec. 15 was 9.8% lower than the same period in 2023.

“Staffing employment has been subdued but steady for much of 2024, and that remains true within the final stretch of the year,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “Although momentum is likely to slow toward the end of the month, elevated levels of economic activity could minimize the dip into 2025.”

This week will be used in the December monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Jan. 3.