Staffing employment edged up during the week of July 13–19, with the ASA Staffing Index increasing by 0.6% to a rounded value of 90. Staffing jobs were 3.7% higher compared with the same period last year, down from 4.6% recorded the previous week. New starts also increased during the 29th week of the year, up 3.2% from the prior week. Close to half of all staffing companies (46%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, slightly above the average of 41% so far in 2026.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased from the previous week to a rounded value of 89. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending July 19 was 5.2% higher than during the same period in 2025. Compared with the June monthly report, staffing employment grew by 0.6%.

“Industry employment has maintained slow but steady pace growth throughout the year,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “Rising cost pressures and economic uncertainty continue to stifle further gains in temporary employment, as the year-to-year lead in the ASA Staffing Index has experienced some erosion over the past five weeks.”

This week will be used in the July monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Aug. 7. For more information, visit americanstaffing.net/index.