A staggering 78% of Baby Boomers (ages 60–78) believe their age would be a contributing factor when being considered for a new position, according to the latest ASA Workforce Monitor^® study commissioned by the American Staffing Association and conducted online by The Harris Poll. By comparison, 55% of Gen Z (ages 18–27) feel this way, along with 51% of Gen X (ages 44–59), and 39% of Millennials (ages 28–43). The survey also found that two-thirds of Baby Boomers (68%) believe their age puts them at a disadvantage when finding a new job, compared with 53% of Gen X, 29% of Millennials, and 48% of Gen Z.

“It’s time for a paradigm shift in how the U.S. labor market views older workers,” said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at the American Staffing Association. “Discrimination based on age is illegal and cannot be tolerated. But routing out persistent and growing ageism requires much more than stepped-up legal enforcement. “Policy makers and HR leaders need to work together to correct and overcome the misconceptions, stereotypes, and biases—conscious and unconscious—of the past. Mature workers have the knowledge as well as the workplace skills accumulated over a lifetime that America needs today and will need even more in the future.”

Overall, a majority of Baby Boomers (53%) say their age limits their career opportunities. Employed Baby Boomers are also less likely (42%) to ask for a raise in 2024, compared with their younger employed counterparts: 66% of Gen Z, 67% of Millennials, and 51% of Gen X. The Boomer generation is also far less likely to search for a new job in 2024 (21%) compared with their younger counterparts (Gen Z: 69%; Millennial: 50%; Gen X: 37%).

What is a WEBO? It’s the Weekly Economic & Business Outlook—a new resource from ASA that goes out to member email boxes every Tuesday morning. This powerful and targeted data and analysis tool features weekly analysis designed to deliver the data-driven intelligence and forward-looking business acumen ASA members need to track trends and capitalize on opportunities.

ASA researchers examine trends within the staffing industry, as well as developments within the broader economy, and then deliver succinct takeaways that can help drive strategic business decisions. Be sure to allow emails from research@americanstaffing.net so you don’t miss this valuable new member benefit.

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 in 2024? Submit your idea today for your chance to speak in the Knowledge Hub at Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo.

Knowledge Hub Tech Talks are 10-minute talks on technology topics, and Knowledge Hub Speed Talks are 10-minute talks covering broader industry topics. Proposals are due May 31—for more information and to start your submission, visit americanstaffing.net/presenters. Staffing World 2024 takes place Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN.

The ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference will feature sessions for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys—and you can save more than $200 if you register by this Friday, March 15.

The conference takes place May 16–17 at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown in Washington, DC. Visit staffinglawconference.net this week to register at the best rate available.

Register for the ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference before registration rates increase March 15 to hear from subject matter experts on the industry’s most pressing topics—including artificial intelligence, contract negotiations, legislation aimed at the staffing industry, remote work, and more.

This two-day event features sessions for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys. It all takes place May 16–17 at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown in Washington, DC. Check out the session descriptions online, and then register at staffinglawconference.net for the best rate available.

The new ASA Weekly Economic & Business Outlook (WEBO) launched this morning for ASA members—this targeted data and analysis tool for staffing professionals features weekly analysis designed to deliver the data-driven intelligence and forward-looking business acumen ASA members need to track trends and capitalize on opportunities. ASA researchers examine trends within the staffing industry, as well as developments within the broader economy, and then deliver succinct takeaways that can help drive strategic business decisions.

A link to the first ASA WEBO was sent to members this morning and will land every Tuesday morning. Make sure to allow the email sender address, research@americanstaffing.net, so you don’t miss this valuable new member benefit and business tool (or opt out via the email).

It’s the most powerful and targeted data and analysis tool available to staffing professionals. Exclusively for members, the new ASA Weekly Economic & Business Outlook (WEBO) features weekly analysis designed to deliver the data-driven intelligence and forward-looking business acumen ASA members need to track trends and capitalize on opportunities. ASA researchers examine trends within the staffing industry as well as developments within the broader economy and then deliver succinct takeaways that can help drive strategic business decisions.

A link to the first ASA WEBO will start landing in member email boxes starting tomorrow morning and will land every Tuesday morning, unless you choose to opt out via the email. Make sure to whitelist the email sender address, research@americanstaffing.net, so you don’t miss this valuable new member benefit and business tool.

Register for the ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference before registration rates increase March 15 to hear from subject matter experts on the industry’s most pressing topics—including artificial intelligence, contract negotiations, legislation aimed at the staffing industry, remote work, and more.

This two-day event features sessions for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys. It all takes place May 16–17 at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown in Washington, DC. Check out the session descriptions online, and then register at staffinglawconference.net for the best rate available.

The ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference is your opportunity to learn must-know legal and compliance information to help protect your firm, win more clients, and hone your operational excellence. Get the staffing, human resource, employment law, and compliance updates you need in sessions such as “Avoiding the Courthouse: Strategies and Alternatives”; “Class Actions and EEOC Enforcement”; “Employee Handbooks and HR Policies for Staffing Firms: What’s New, What’s Harmful, and What’s Missing”; and more.

Visit staffinglawconference.net to register today before rates increase—and to take advantage of a special Leap Day offer. If you register today, not only will you receive the early rate and save more than $200, but you’ll also be entered into a drawing for the newly released ASA Staffing Law Handbook, which provides a concise overview of how U.S. federal employment laws uniquely affect staffing as well as HR-related operations and compliance.

Staffing employment declined for the second week in a row during the week of Feb. 12–18, with the ASA Staffing Index decreasing by 1.0% to a rounded value of 90. Staffing companies mentioned no one primary factor that limited further growth. Staffing jobs were down 10.6% from the same period last year.

New starts in the seventh week of the year, however, increased by 9.9% from the prior week. Four in 10 staffing companies (40%) reported gains in new assignments week to week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased from the prior week to a rounded value of 90, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Feb. 18 was 11.0% lower than the same period in 2023.

“While staffing employment often moderates in February, it is typically preceded by a robust recovery in staffing jobs following the holiday season. An anemic early-year surge in 2024 is indicative of tightening business conditions, which continue to challenge the industry and economy at large,” 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 8.