Staffing employment increased during the week of Oct. 13–19, with the ASA Staffing Index growing by 1.1% to a rounded value of 92. Staffing companies cited no one primary factor that hindered growth. Staffing jobs were 2.2% higher compared with the same period last year, up slightly from 2.0% recorded the previous week.

New starts also increased in the 42nd week of the year, up by 1.0% from the prior week. Almost four in 10 staffing companies (38%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, a little below the average of 42% so far in 2025.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased from the previous week while holding at a rounded value of 91. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Oct. 19 was 1.4% higher than during the same period in 2024.

“The staffing industry continues to make steady progress in what is otherwise a sluggish year for the labor market, with the ASA Staffing Index marking its sixth week of positive year-to-year growth,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “Despite economic headwinds, the recent gains forged by staffing companies raise a higher platform to build from in 2026.”