More than half of U.S. workers (53%) feel their paychecks are not keeping up with the pace of inflation, according to a new ASA Workforce Monitor^® study from ASA and The Harris Poll.

As interest rates and inflation exert increased pressure on consumers’ finances, the survey found that only 47% of U.S. workers do think their paycheck is keeping up with the current rate of inflation.

Nearly four in 10 (38%) U.S. adults said their overall financial situation is more stressful than it was 12 months ago, at a time when the majority of Americans say inflation is causing them to save less for unexpected expenses.

“The data may project a soft landing for the economy, but the bank accounts of America’s workers are telling a different story,” said ASA chief executive officer Richard Wahlquist. “With the price of a pound of ground beef increasing by 29% over just four years and personal savings rates at their lowest levels in 15 years, U.S. workers are understandably stressed about the adequacy of their paychecks and their ability to save for their future. Unless things begin to turn around quickly, workers’ negative attitudes about their finances and the economy will likely be a top issue when voters go to the polls in November.”

The ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference will feature subject matter experts on the industry’s most pressing topics—including artificial intelligence, contract negotiations, legislation aimed at the staffing industry, and remote work—and you can save more than $200 if you register by March 15.

This two-day event features sessions for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys. Plus, when you register, you’ll be entered to win a copy of the new ASA Staffing Law Handbook.

The conference takes place May 16–17 at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown in Washington, DC, and ASA has reserved a block of hotel rooms for conference attendees at a special daily rate. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit staffinglawconference.net to register for the Staffing Law & Compliance Conference and make your travel plans.

Despite broader merger and acquisitions market challenges and volatility during 2023, staffing M&A remained highly active throughout the year, with signs of continued momentum in early 2024. Jeremy Falendysz of UHY Corporate Finance and Paul Pincus of Ortoli Rosenstadt will analyze staffing M&A market data and share their insights into relevant trends for staffing company buyers and sellers during the ASA webinar “Staffing Mergers and Acquisitions Market Update: 2023 Takeaways and 2024 Outlook.” It takes place Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2–3 p.m. Eastern time.

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.

Don’t miss your chance to get the staffing and recruiting data you need. The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2023 will close this Friday, Feb. 23. Participate in the survey and compare how your company is doing with similar-sized companies and firms within your industry sector.

After completing the survey, you 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. Visit americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey to take the survey today.

Attendees of the upcoming ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference have the option of also registering for a special compliance preconference program called “Health Care Staffing: Legal and Legislative Updates,” which takes place Wednesday, May 15, 1–5 p.m. at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown. The main conference begins at the same location the next morning and continues through May 17.

You do not have to be currently operating in the health care staffing sector to register for this newly announced program. Compliance preconference program attendees will hear important updates about legal and legislative proposals and policies that affect a major sector of the staffing industry—including federal and state efforts to regulate staffing agencies with health care lines of business, top current and forthcoming legal issues in health care staffing, and current best practices for compliance and growth. The preconference registration rate is $200. If you have not yet registered for this year’s Staffing Law & Compliance Conference, register today and add on the preconference option.

Learn more at staffinglawconference.net. Questions? Email Katie McGilvery or call 703-253-2020.

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 former ASA Staffing Law Conference is now the ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference—a two-day event with sessions for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys.

Come to the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown, May 16–17 in Washington, DC, 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. Visit staffinglawconference.net to register at the best rates available.

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 at Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, which takes place Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN.

Slots are available for Knowledge Hub Tech Talks (10-minute talks on technology topics) and Knowledge Hub Speed Talks (10-minute talks on broader industry topics), and proposals are due May 31.

At the ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference, you’ll 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 conference is not just for lawyers—programming is designed for staffing firm owners and executives, human resource professionals, compliance managers, recruiters, and attorneys.

Check out the newly posted agenda and session descriptions for this important event, May 16–17 at the Westin Washington, DC, Downtown in Washington, DC, and then visit staffinglawconference.net to reserve your spot.

The ASA Staffing Law Conference is now called the Staffing Law & Compliance Conference. Why? Because the sessions are important for staffing firm owners and executives as well as compliance managers, human resource professionals, recruiters, and attorneys. ASA general counsel Brittany Sakata, Esq., explains the reasoning in the latest ASA Legal Line video for members.

See which important topics are on the docket at this year’s ASA Staffing Law & Compliance Conference, May 16–17 in Washington, DC. Session descriptions have just been posted online, and registration is open—go to americanstaffing.net to register at the lowest rate available. ASA members receive additional discounts.

The ASA Legal Line monthly video series is sponsored by Essential StaffCARE, an ASA corporate partner.