Four weeks from today, the ASA Staffing Law and Compliance Conference will bring together the nation’s leading experts in employment law, compliance issues, and human resources to address the industry’s most pressing topics—including artificial intelligence in recruiting, fraud protection, Form I-9 compliance, and much more.

This two-day event, renamed last year to better reflect its focus on compliance and related human resource content, is not just for attorneys—sessions will deliver critical information for staffing professionals, HR executives, compliance managers, recruiters, owners, and attorneys.

Connect with employment law experts, learn about legislative policy changes, meet with leading industry suppliers, and earn continuing education hours—come to the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC, May 8–9. Visit staffinglawconference.net to register.

Maximize your conference experience by adding the health care staffing preconference program that takes place May 7. Separate registration is required, and preconference program attendees must be registered for the Staffing Law & Compliance Conference.

Get ahead in your career by taking advantage of the ASA professional development sale—through the month of April. You’ll get a 25% discount on education and certification products (except certification renewal fees)—including certification packages, exams, and study materials; Staffing Pro Stacks credentialing programs; staffing industry onboarding courses; and more.

Learn about the Certified Staffing Professional^® credential at americanstaffing.net/certification, and then place your order in the ASA store using the discount code SPRINGCERT25. The sale ends April 30.

In the staffing industry—and in business generally—women face barriers that can hold them back from advancing in their careers. THRIVE virtual is an empowering event designed exclusively for women in the staffing industry.

This year’s virtual event will feature opening keynote speaker Michelle P. King, Ph.D., a globally recognized expert in workplace culture, along with inspiring presenters like Lauren Beane, host of the “Ready Enough” podcast, and Erika Bantz of Butler Street.

The half-day event takes place online—Tuesday, May 20, from 1 to 6 p.m. Eastern time—but early registration discounts end April 13. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this essential movement shaping the future of women in staffing. Visit americanstaffing.net to learn more and register before rates increase.

Attendees of the upcoming ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference have the option of also registering for a special health care staffing preconference program that takes place Wednesday, May 7, 1–5 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC. The main conference begins at the same location the next morning and continues through May 9.

Preconference program attendees will get insights into legal and legislative issues affecting the health care sector of the staffing industry—including compliance and regulatory issues, federal and state efforts to regulate health care staffing agencies, state licensure compacts, and more.

Separate registration is required, and preconference program attendees must be registered for the Staffing Law & Compliance Conference. Visit staffinglawconference.net to learn more and register for both events.

Get ready to take the next step in your leadership journey—come to THRIVE virtual for your opportunity to learn from powerful and inspiring women from throughout the staffing industry. Gain exclusive insights from top women in staffing, connect with like-minded leaders and advocates, and get new strategies to fuel your leadership.

The half-day event takes place online—Tuesday, May 20, from 1 to 6 p.m. Eastern time—but early registration discounts end April 13. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this essential movement shaping the future of women in staffing. Visit americanstaffing.net to learn more and register before rates increase.

ASA members can now submit nominations for National Staffing Employee of the Year and the ASA Care Awards. There is no cost to enter, so ASA award programs offer cost-effective opportunities for staffing and recruiting firms and industry solutions providers to be nationally recognized for their commitment to excellence.

The National Staffing Employee of the Year program 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.

The ASA Care Awards program recognizes outstanding social responsibility efforts by staffing firms and industry suppliers.

Learn more and submit your nomination at americanstaffing.net/awards. The deadline to enter both programs is May 2.

Invest in your career and expand your expertise by taking advantage of the ASA professional development sale—starting right now and continuing through the end of this month. You’ll get a 25% discount on education and certification products (except certification renewal fees)—including certification packages, exams, and study materials; Staffing Pro Stacks credentialing programs; staffing industry onboarding courses; and more.

Why should you earn an ASA credential? Visit americanstaffing.net/certification to learn the answer—then place your order in the ASA store, using the discount code SPRINGCERT25, by April 30.

U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.2 million temporary and contract workers per week in the fourth quarter of 2024—up 37,000 jobs from the third quarter of 2024—according to data released today by the American Staffing Association. The association’s Staffing Employment and Sales Survey showed that staffing sales totaled $30.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, little changed (up 0.1%) quarter-to-quarter and 10.4% below levels from the same period in 2023.

Continued concerns about macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions dampened hiring and job creation across most business sectors in the U.S. in 2024. For the full year of 2024, industry sales were $124.0 billion, down 13.0% from 2023.

Over the course of 2024, staffing companies provided employment to 11.2 million temporary and contract employees, down from 12.7 million hired in 2023. The average length of employment with a staffing agency held at 10.1 weeks. Of note, the sequential gains in fourth quarter staffing employment and sales hint at a return to normalization and the historic seasonal trend of regular growth from the second to the fourth quarters of the year.

“Although the recent growth in staffing employment and sales is encouraging, broader market uncertainties will continue to impact the pace of its recovery in the short term,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA chief executive officer. “However, industry leaders are confident about the increasingly important roles that the industry will play in 2025 and beyond in helping organizations achieve higher degrees of workforce flexibility, efficiency, productivity, and engagement.”

Get ready to take the next step in your leadership journey by learning to navigate change and lead with confidence in times of uncertainty. Whether you’re growing into your first leadership role or shaping the future of your firm, THRIVE Virtual 2025 is designed to help you take the next step.

The half-day event takes place Tuesday, May 20—online—from 1 to 6 p.m. Eastern time. Along with the keynote presentations, networking sessions, and speed talks, you’ll be able to attend either the breakout session for emerging leaders, “Ready Enough: Activating Your Confidence With Only 50% of the Answers”—presented by Lauren Beane, host of the “Ready Enough” podcast—or the breakout session for executives, “Future-Proofing for Sustained Growth Through Joy and Change Management”—presented by Erika Bantz of Butler Street.

The best leaders don’t wait for the perfect moment—they create it. Visit americanstaffing.net/thrive to register and unlock your full potential.

Staffing employment edged down during the week of March 10–16, with the ASA Staffing Index decreasing 0.3% but holding at a rounded value of 83. Staffing companies cited no primary factor that hindered further growth. Staffing jobs were 7.7% lower relative to the same period last year, widening the gap slightly from 7.5% observed the previous week.

New starts also edged down in the 11th week of the year, decreasing 2.2% from the prior week. Almost four in 10 staffing companies (37%) reported gains in new assignments week-to-week, below the average of 45% so far in 2025.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased from the previous week but held at a rounded value of 83. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending March 16 was 7.4% below the same period in 2024.

“Employment momentum remains confounded by a trifecta of higher labor costs, lower labor turnover, and plenty of uncertainties about the economy,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA. “Staffing companies, much like their clients, remain hopeful for labor market conditions to improve over the year but are prepared to weather further stagnation for the time being.”

This week will be used in the March monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics April 4.