Get information about the educational sessions planned for Staffing World^® 2021, where the staffing community comes together to make strategic connections and get solutions that fuel growth and success. The theme for this year’s event is “Better Together, Stronger Ahead.”

Details for three powerful keynote presentations and more than 20 educational sessions are now live on the Staffing World website. Check out the session descriptions, pick those you feel most passionate about, and register for the industry’s most valuable learning and networking event—early registration prices are only available through June 15.

Come together with the staffing community to help your business come back better than ever after a year of disruption and advance the world of work. The ASA annual convention and expo takes place Sept. 28–30 this year at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver. Register today for the best rate available at staffingworld.net.

U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.7 million temporary and contract workers per week in the first quarter of 2021, according to data released today by the American Staffing Association—down about 100,000 from the fourth quarter of 2020.

On a quarter-to-quarter basis, staffing employment and sales typically peak in the fourth quarter, decline in the first quarter, and grow in subsequent quarters. That seasonal pattern continued, but at the lowest reduction in rates since the first quarter of 2010, with staffing jobs contracting by 3.6% from the fourth quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2021 and staffing sales declining by 2.6%.

Staffing jobs declined 3.7% in the first quarter of 2021 from the same period in 2020, while temporary and contract staffing sales increased 5.2% year-to-year—totaling $33.8 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

“Staffing firms are currently on the front lines helping America address a new crisis—millions of more new jobs are being created than there are people currently seeking work,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “To support continued economic growth, getting sidelined workers vaccinated, upskilled, and back into the workforce must be top priorities for the government and the private sector as we continue to put the pandemic behind us.”

The ASA convention and expo is where the staffing community comes together to make strategic connections and get solutions that fuel growth and success. Staffing World^® 2021 takes place in person, Sept. 28–30, at the beautiful Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. The theme for this year’s event is “Better Together, Stronger Ahead.” 

Register online by June 15 for the lowest rate available. There are also group discounts as well as special alumni rates for those who attended virtually last year. Learn more and register today at staffingworld.net.

The ASA Mentor Match program is seeking experienced staffing professionals to volunteer for the upcoming six-month mentoring period: July–December 2021. The deadline to enroll for this cycle is this Friday, June 4. Enrollment takes less than five minutes.

Give back to the staffing community, share your experiences and knowledge, and contribute to the future of the staffing industry. Volunteer as a mentor in the ASA Mentor Match program.

Take part in a valuable mentoring relationship with a staffing industry peer—apply to the ASA Mentor Match Program. Mentor Match allows members to make valuable industry connections, define career goals, and gain insight from industry peers at all stages of their career. The goal of the program is to help staffing professionals grow professionally and network with fellow ASA members.

Applications for the six-month cycle that begins in July are due Friday, June 4. Visit americanstaffing.net/mentormatch to get started as a mentor or mentee.

After five weeks of growth, staffing employment for the week of May 10–16 was unchanged (0.00%) from the prior week, holding at a rounded value of 95, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Staffing Jobs were up significantly (+57.3%) year-to-year and continue to maintain a similar trajectory (-0.02%) relative to the same week in 2019. Temporary-to-hire conversions were mentioned by several staffing companies, in addition to Covid-19, as factors limiting staffing job growth.

New starts expanded 9.3% on average, with half of staffing companies reporting gains in new assignments week-to-week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased to a rounded value of 95, nearing levels seen in December 2019. Temporary and contract staffing employment from mid-April through mid-May grew 57% compared with the pandemic lows during the same time frame in 2020.

“Although staffing employment was stalled this past week, overall staffing job growth has continued in May—as evidenced by a healthy expansion in new starts. That’s a sign of steady demand for staffing services,” said Cynthia Davidson, ASA senior director of research.

This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the May monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics June 4. All staffing firms with U.S. operations are invited to participate in the weekly ASA Staffing Index survey. Participants receive a weekly email summary report, and there are no fees to participate.

What makes job candidates decide to leave a job? What do they think about staffing agencies?
How do job seekers look for jobs? Find out what prospective employees are thinking—get the new ASA Candidate Sentiment Study. The report includes data from job seekers within different generations, industry sectors, races/ethnicities, and genders.

The ASA Candidate Sentiment Study is available for purchase now, and ASA members receive a discount. Get more information at americanstaffing.net/candidate-sentiment-study.

Some things are just better in person, and the ASA annual convention and expo is one of them. The staffing community has shown great resilience during the past year, and now it is time to reunite at Staffing World^®—where you and your peers will come together to make strategic connections and get solutions that will fuel your growth and success in the months ahead, especially as U.S. companies and employees continue to adapt to pandemic-induced change.

Join the staffing community at Staffing World 2021, Sept. 28–30. We are better together, stronger ahead, and we look forward to seeing in you Denver. Register today for the best rate available at staffingworld.net.

ASA THRIVE 2021: Elevating and Empowering Women in Staffing, which takes place today from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Eastern time, is your chance to learn from and connect with standout women leaders.

Hear from powerful and inspiring women presenters who will share the strategies that have propelled their careers during this collaborative virtual event brought to you by the ASA women in leadership interest group.

ASA-certified professionals can earn up to 3.0 hours of continuing education toward certification renewal. Learn more and register at americanstaffing.net/THRIVE.

The women in leadership interest group is sponsored by ASA corporate partners Bullhorn and Essential StaffCARE, and by Anthem, Assurance, ClearEdge Marketing, Mee Derby, Sense HQ, and WorkN.