Staffing employment for the week of Feb. 10–16 eased 0.34% from the prior week, decreasing for the fourth week in a row, according to the ASA Staffing Index. A few survey respondents cited temporary-to-hire conversions and the Presidents Day holiday as factors limiting growth. Staffing jobs were down 6.9% from the same week last year, yet remained at a rounded value of 87—just below the historical average of 88 for the comparative week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased slightly to a value of 87. Temporary and contract staffing jobs for the four weeks ending Feb. 16 were down 6.5% from the same period last year.

This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the February monthly employment situation report that will be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics March 6.

The quarterly ASA Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2019 will now close on Thursday, Feb. 27. Participate in the brief survey and compare how your company is doing with similar-sized companies, firms within your industry sector, and projections for this year’s first quarter and the full year. After completing the survey, you will have access to an exclusive archive of reports on the results, enhanced with graphs.

Register to take the survey at americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey. If you have questions or did not receive a survey link, email research@americanstaffing.net. There are no fees to participate.

ASA Staffing Connect events are designed to deliver targeted content and local networking opportunities for the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry at regional and state levels. Join fellow members at these upcoming events, with sessions organized into a content track for owners and c-suite executives and another content track for sales, recruiting, and marketing professionals.

April 22–24—ASA Staffing Connect: East
Crowne Plaza Executive Park
Charlotte, NC

May 13–15—ASA Staffing Connect: South
Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
Irving, TX

ASA-certified professionals can earn continuing education hours toward maintaining their ASA credential. Visit americanstaffing.net to learn more and to register for an event near you.

ASA Staffing Connect events are designed to deliver high-quality learning and local networking opportunities for the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry at regional and state levels. This year’s events will feature two targeted tracks of content—one for owners and c-suite executives and another for sales, recruiting, and marketing professionals—as well as focused preconvention programs for women leaders in staffing and for staffing company owners.

Join fellow members at ASA Staffing Connect: East, April 22–24 in Charlotte, NC, or ASA Staffing Connect: South, May 13–15 in Irving, TX.

ASA-certified professionals can earn continuing education hours toward maintaining their ASA credential. Visit americanstaffing.net to learn more and to register for an event near you.

Can you offer solutions for the challenges that staffing firms face today? ASA is looking for experts in the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry to share their experience and expertise in workshops and in Tech Park and Game Changer presentations at Staffing World^® 2020, Oct. 20–22 in Nashville, TN.

The association also is looking for professionals in business, workforce solutions, workplace management, and other disciplines pertinent to the staffing industry to present ASA webinars throughout the year.

The deadline for Staffing World workshop submissions is March 2. Proposals for ASA webinars are accepted throughout the year, though earlier submissions get priority. For more information and to start your submission, visit americanstaffing.net.

The 2020 ASA Staffing Law Conference takes place May 7–8 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC. It is the only event dedicated to the legal and legislative issues affecting the U.S. staffing industry.

Conference sessions will include

• “How the 2020 Elections Could Affect Business“—Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report (sponsored by ASA corporate partner Essential StaffCARE)
• “Breaking Bud: Compliance, Safety Issues, and New Business“—
  Sofia Bowden, director of compliance, ASGN Inc.; Diane J. Geller, partner, Fox Rothschild LLP; and Joanna S. Monroe, president and chief executive officer, Consult JSM
• “Test Your Legal Knowledge: How a Multistate Mishmash Affects Staffing Operations“—
  Katharine Beattie, member, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo; Jason B. Klimpl, partner, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP; and Robert T. Szyba, partner, labor and employment, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
• “The Next Big Thing$ You Have to Worry About—Data Breaches and Ransomware“—
  Devon Ackerman, managing director, cyber risk, and head of incident response, North America, Kroll, a division of Duff & Phelps; Pat Haggerty, partner, BakerHostetler
• “Your Form I-9 Practices Under a Magnifying Glass: Immigration Enforcement and Staffing Companies“—Helen L. Konrad, director, McCandlish Holton PC; and Liza Zamd, senior trial attorney, civil rights division, immigrant and employee rights section, U.S. Department of Justice (sponsored by Maximus)

For a full list of sessions, descriptions, and presenters, visit staffinglawconference.net—and register by March 20 for the best rate available.

As the first month of the new year winds down, watch a video message from Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer, on what your association accomplished in 2019—and what to expect in the year ahead for ASA and for the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry.

Among the changes, you may have noticed that Staffing Today has a new look. It’s designed to be easier to read on-the-go and compatible with any mobile device. Please share your thoughts about the new design—send an email to success@americanstaffing.net.

The 2019 ASA Staffing Law Conference takes place May 7–8 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC, and you won’t want to miss it—this is the only event dedicated to the legal and regulatory issues facing staffing companies.

The conference will feature discussions of such topics as immigration enforcement, electronic data security, and marijuana regulations—plus a special session with political analyst Charlie Cook on how the 2020 elections could affect business.

Go to americanstaffing.net and register by March 20 to get the best rate available.

Staffing jobs for the week of Jan. 6–12 surged 6.0% from the prior week, increasing to a value of 87, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Staffing employment was down 7.2% from the same week last year and below the average value of 90 seen over the past decade for the second week of the year.

Survey respondents cited the lingering effect of the holidays as a factor impeding further growth.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased to a value of 85. Staffing jobs for the four weeks ending Jan. 12 were down 6.7% from the same period in 2019.

This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the January monthly employment situation report that will be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Feb. 7.

ASA Staffing Connect events are designed to deliver targeted content and local networking opportunities for the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry at regional and state levels. Join fellow members at these upcoming events, with sessions organized into a content track for owners and c-suite executives and another content track for sales, recruiting, and marketing professionals.

April 22–24—ASA Staffing Connect: East
Crowne Plaza Executive Park
Charlotte, NC

May 13–15—ASA Staffing Connect: South
Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
Irving, TX

ASA-certified professionals can earn continuing education hours toward maintaining their ASA credential. Visit americanstaffing.net to learn more and to register for an event near you.