On Wednesday, July 15 at 2 p.m. Eastern time, ASA president and CEO Stephen Dwyer will host an exclusive town hall for members about the challenges and opportunities facing the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry.

“We are navigating an era of rapid change in the industry,” said Dwyer.  “Supporting members’ success amidst these changes is ASA’s top priority. This town hall is an opportunity for an open and candid conversation about what’s top of mind for industry leaders today, and how ASA intends to strengthen our industry and drive growth.” RSVP today.

Tune in today at 1 p.m. Eastern time for the latest ASA Economic and Staffing Industry Forecast with Noah Yosif, ASA chief economist. Be sure to join the forecast promptly at 1 p.m. because this quick 30-minute update will be packed with precisely the economic analysis and industry prognostications your business needs to make smart decisions that result in growth. Only ASA members have access to these complimentary forecasts. Register now. → 

The latest Staffing Productivity Report will be released today during an ASA webinar at 2 p.m. Eastern time that is free to members.

Launched in the first quarter of this year, this joint research initiative between the ASA research team and ASA corporate partner Prodoscore has garnered interest from industry media as well as economic analysts who look to staffing employment trends as a coincident economic indicator.

The webinar, “The Staffing Productivity Report: Benchmarks to Understand Industry Trends,” will deliver data on the latest recruiter productivity trends, work patterns and priorities, AI tool usage trends, and more—providing valuable benchmarks for staffing firms to identify growth opportunities. Learn more and register today.

Staffing employment edged down during the week of May 11–17, with the ASA Staffing Index decreasing by 0.2% to a value of 88. Staffing companies cited no one particular factor that hindered growth. Staffing jobs were 4.8% higher compared with the same period last year, up from 4.6% recorded the previous week.

New starts, however, increased in the 20th week of the year, up 6.9% from the prior week. More than half of staffing companies (54%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, above the average of 41% so far in 2026.

Today, May 22, is the deadline for submitting nominations to the 2027 ASA National Staffing Employee of the Year program.

You already have the stories about your standout temporary and contract employees, now it’s time to turn those success stories into national recognition for your staffing company.

The overall winner as well as finalists receive national visibility and recognition, including ASA promotion, exclusive tool kits you can use with clients and talent, and recognition at ASA Staffing World^® 2026 in Denver, CO.

Submit your nominations today at americanstaffing.net/NSEY.

The ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference, May 7–8 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC, will bring together staffing executives, human resource and compliance leaders, and the industry’s legal community to focus on the evolving compliance landscape for staffing companies and the challenges they’re facing.

There is still time to register and be among the top legal and compliance experts in the industry. Visit staffinglawconference.net or register on site starting at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

Are you looking for a boost in your career, or for help developing yourself as an emerging leader in the staffing and recruiting industry? Enroll as a mentee in the ASA Mentor Match program. Mentor Match allows members to make valuable industry connections, define career goals, and gain insight from staffing peers. The goal of the program is to help members grow professionally and network with fellow ASA members.

Mentees are matched with a mentor based on areas of expertise for a six-month period. Applications for the six-month cycle that begins in July are due May 31. Visit americanstaffing.net/mentormatch to get started.

Tomorrow, May 1, is the submission deadline for the ASA National Staffing Employee of the Year program. This prestigious award honors a current or former temporary or contract employee with an extraordinary story of staffing success and who best exemplifies one or more of the industry’s key messages of bridging, flexibility, and access to a new career.

ASA also recognizes finalists for the top award by naming National Staffing All-Stars in each industry sector. Selected honorees receive national recognition, and the National Staffing Employee of the Year wins a trip to Staffing World^® 2026, Oct. 12–14 in Denver. The National Staffing Employee of the Year and Sector All-Stars program is sponsored by StaffPRO³, a division of PMC Insurance Group.

Submit your nomination today and gain recognition for your staffing company’s success—visit americanstaffing.net/nsey.

Staffing employment grew during the week of April 13–19, with the ASA Staffing Index increasing by 0.8% to a rounded value of 88. Staffing companies cited no one particular factor that hindered growth. Staffing jobs were 5.3% higher compared with the same period last year, up from 3.6% recorded the previous week.

New starts also increased in the 16th week of the year, up 2.2% from the prior week. Three in 10 staffing companies (30%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, below the average of 40% so far in 2026.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average improved from the previous week to a rounded value of 88. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending April 19 was 4.9% higher than during the same period in 2025.

“Temporary and contract staffing employment has reached seven months of year-to-year growth,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “Employers are increasingly turning to short-term, flexible talent to fulfill their business needs in an uncertain economy.”

This week will be used in the April monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 8.

Don’t miss the first session of the new “ASA Interactive Masterclass Series: Leadership That Works With Seth Stein.” The series begins this Thursday, April 30, 12 noon–1:30 p.m. Eastern time.

This exclusive ASA Interactive Masterclass Series is designed to help senior staffing leaders strengthen clarity, focus, and execution while navigating increasingly complex and fast-moving organizations.

The virtual series of six sessions is limited to just 30 attendees, and each registered attendee will receive practical leadership tools designed for immediate application inside their organizations. ASA credential holders can earn up to 6.0 continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal by attending the full series. Learn more and register at americanstaffing.net.