The ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference takes place May 8–9 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. Secure your seat today—you’ll save more than $200 when you register by this Friday, March 7.

Renamed last year to better reflect its important focus on compliance and related human resource content, this highly focused event will deliver the answers you need on topics such as Form I-9 compliance, using artificial intelligence in recruiting, fraud protection, and much more. Get the information you need to stay ahead of legal changes, gain confidence in compliance issues, and navigate upcoming policy shifts.

Visit staffinglawconference.net for details and to register before rates increase.

The next few weeks will be full of free education from ASA. These upcoming ASA webinars can help you understand industry trends, retain top talent, and more.

March 4—”Celebrating Women’s History Month: Supporting Women in Staffing to Drive Retention and Advancement“
A panel of industry leaders will examine what women value in the workplace and consider tactics employers can use to retain female talent and encourage women to pursue opportunities to move up in leadership in a discussion co-hosted by the Women Business Collaborative’s Staffing Workstream group.

March 18—”ASA State of the Industry Webinar Series—First Quarter Update for Staffing Professionals“
ASA and ClearlyRated, the association’s satisfaction survey partner for more than a decade, bring industry leaders the most important trends, research, and legislative updates to help your firm outpace your competition.

March 25—”Navigating DEI Executive Orders and Other Employer Considerations in the Second Trump Term“
With legislative and regulatory changes coming from the new administration, workplace leaders are facing new challenges in maintaining inclusive and effective organizational cultures. Attorneys Benjamin M. Ebbink of Fisher & Phillips LLP and Toby Malara of ASA will offer guidance on how employers can minimize disruptions to their operations and ensure compliance during changing times.

All ASA webinars are free for ASA members, and most qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. To learn more and to register, visit americanstaffing.net.

This year’s ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference takes place May 8–9 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC. At this premier event for employment law, human resource, staffing, and compliance professionals, subject matter experts will discuss the industry’s most pressing topics—including Form I-9 compliance, using artificial intelligence in recruiting, fraud protection, and much more.

Wondering who you’ll see there? Session presenters include attorneys Dana Baughns of Allegis Group; Lia Elliott of Staffing GC; Helen L. Konrad of McCandlish Holton PC; Sarah Kroll-Rosenbaum of Akerman LLP; Gerald L. Maatman Jr. of Duane Morris LLP; Anthony D. Sbardellati of Akerman LLP; and members of the ASA legal and public affairs team—among others.

Visit staffinglawconference.net to learn about the scheduled sessions, make your travel plans, and register at the lowest rates available—after next Friday, March 7, rates will increase.

Staffing employment inched down during the week of Feb. 10–16, with the ASA Staffing Index decreasing 0.4% but holding at a rounded value of 83. Staffing companies cited no primary factor that hindered further growth. Staffing jobs were 7.8% lower relative to the same period last year, narrowing the gap by half a point from 8.3% the previous week.

New starts decreased in the seventh week of the year, down 10.7% from the prior week. Only one in four staffing companies (26%) reported gains in new assignments week to week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average edged up from the previous week to a rounded value of 82. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Feb. 16 was 8.6% below the same period in 2024.

“Delays in long-term tailwinds—including rate cuts and labor costs—compounded by short-term challenges such as inclement weather, have led to a slow start to 2025 for staffing employment and the broader labor market. Relief may be on the horizon for staffing employment, as businesses are confident that economic conditions will improve throughout the year, but the staffing industry will have to wait a little longer for the economy to develop an appetite for additional headcount,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA.

This week will be used in the February monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics March 7.

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2024 is currently open—but the deadline to participate is this Friday, Feb. 28.

Participants that complete the survey will be able to access an exclusive online report archive, which includes benchmarks for the number of direct hire searches and permanent placements, sector-specific gross margin trends, and payroll and productivity metrics by company size.

Get the data to compare how your company is doing with similar-sized companies and firms within your industry sector. Register to take the survey at americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey. There are no fees to participate.

The American Staffing Association’s call for subject matter experts is currently open. Do you have insights that are essential to the staffing, recruiting, or workforce solutions industry that you’d like to share with the ASA community? Submit your proposal today for your chance to present an ASA webinar or speak at Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo.

Staffing World 2025 takes place Oct. 6–8 in Orlando, and slots are available for Speed Talks (10-minute talks on topics important to the industry). Proposals are due May 31.

ASA webinars (60-minute presentations on a topic important to the industry) take place virtually, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Proposals are accepted throughout the year.

For more information and to start your submission, visit americanstaffing.net/presenters.

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2024 is now open. Staffing companies that complete the brief survey by Feb. 28 receive an exclusive report on the results, which includes gross margin and sector-level data.

Register to take the survey, or view the questionnaire, 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 chief executive officer Richard Wahlquist, whose vision led to the expansion of the ASA education, learning, and advocacy programs, has announced his retirement at the end of 2025. ASA president Stephen C. Dwyer will assume the role of chief executive officer Jan. 1, 2026.

During Wahlquist’s time as chief executive officer, the association’s scope, effectiveness, and recognition as the voice of the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry grew exponentially, both in the U.S. and internationally. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to work with the incredible team at ASA; its current and past boards of directors; and the wonderful members of the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry,” Wahlquist said. “As staffing faces new challenges and opportunities for growth, Stephen’s forward-thinking vision and passion for the industry will be instrumental to the association and industry’s continued growth.”

Dwyer has worked at ASA since 2002. As senior vice president and chief legal officer, he led legal and public affairs campaigns to advocate for the industry. Since being named president in 2023, Dwyer has spearheaded organizational transformations to allow ASA to better serve its members. “I’m humbled at the opportunity to support the industry as the chief executive officer at ASA,” Dwyer said. “Richard’s steadfast leadership has helped the industry evolve and innovate, navigating economic downturns, market fluctuations, and even a global pandemic. I look forward to helping build on his legacy of success at ASA.”

As your firm navigates new policies, shifting regulations, and complex compliance challenges, you know 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for staffing firms. Policy shifts are happening, and they will directly affect your firm.

At the 2025 ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference, May 8–9 in Washington, DC, you’ll gain expert insights and actionable strategies from top legal minds and industry leaders to stay ahead of evolving regulations, minimize risk, and safeguard your firm’s success.

Hear from top legal experts who know the staffing industry, learn about new laws and compliance risks before they become liabilities, and connect with peers who are facing the same challenges. Register by March 7 to save more than $200.

Next week, ExecuVision 2025 will bring together the staffing industry’s most innovative c-suite executives to gain fresh insights, solve pressing challenges, and develop a roadmap for growth. Hear from expert speakers like Jim Collins, Kelly Boykin of Growth Curve, and Dana Baughns of Allegis Group, who will help you get a strategic edge that will help you and your firm excel in 2025. Collins will deliver a transformative masterclass focused on the principles that turn obstacles into opportunities.

This exclusive gathering, taking place Feb. 11–12 in Miami, is limited to 200 industry leaders, which ensures every session is tailored to deliver high-impact strategies. Tackle today’s challenges with insights on artificial intelligence, market shifts, and operational transformation; connect with top executives and peers to exchange insights and opportunities; and build relationships that will propel your business forward. Seats are limited—secure your spot today at execuvision.net.