ASA is looking for experts in the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry to share their experience and expertise with the ASA community in 2024. Opportunities are available for both Staffing World^®—the ASA annual convention and expo—and for ASA webinars.

Staffing World 2024 takes place Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN. The three opportunities for content are breakout sessions (interactive presentations; between 60 and 75 minutes long), Knowledge Hub Tech Talks (presentations on technology topics important to the industry; 10 minutes long), and Knowledge Hub Speed Talks (presentations on general topics important to the industry; 10 minutes long). ASA webinars take place throughout the year, usually on Tuesdays (virtual presentations on general topics important to the industry; typically 60 minutes long).

For more information and to submit your proposal, visit americanstaffing.net/presenters. The deadline for Staffing World breakout session proposals and ASA webinars is Jan. 31. The deadline for Staffing World Knowledge Hub Speed Talks and Tech Talks is May 31.

The American Staffing Association’s website, americanstaffing.net, has just been refreshed to improve its functionality and appearance. The site now features a significantly enhanced search engine, updated menus and navigation, personalized content recommendations, and more.

You will need to be logged in to access all the new features. If you have forgotten your user name or password, email membership@americanstaffing.net. If you have general feedback about the site, email success@americanstaffing.net.

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, or to present an ASA webinar in 2024.

Staffing World 2024 takes place Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN. Slots are available for

• Breakout Sessions—interactive sessions lasting 60-75 minutes (proposals due Jan. 31)
• Knowledge Hub Tech Talks—10-minute talks on technology topics (proposals due May 31)
• Knowledge Hub Speed Talks—10-minute talks on broader industry topics (proposals due May 31)

ASA webinars, virtual programs held throughout the year on Tuesdays, are typically 60 minutes long (proposals due Jan. 31). For more information and to start your submission, visit americanstaffing.net/presenters.

Every January, the U.S. recognizes National Mentoring Month to spread awareness about the importance and positive impact of mentoring in helping prepare people to succeed. ASA celebrates the dedicated mentors whose wisdom, guidance, and positive examples establish valuable connections within the industry and help their association peers define career goals and enhance their leadership skills.

You can join them by participating in the ASA Mentor Match program, which connects mentor–mentee pairs based on topics of expertise. The Mentor Match program runs in two six-month cycles per year (January–June and July–December). Applications for the next cycle will be accepted starting in May. Learn more at americanstaffing.net, or send an email to volunteer@americanstaffing.net.

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2023 is now open. Staffing companies that complete the brief survey—including search and placement firms—will have access to an exclusive report on the results, enhanced with graphs. The report, which participants can download from the ASA website, also includes an executive summary, plus sales category and sector-level data. There are no fees to participate.

The data collected by this survey enable ASA to track staffing sales and gross margin trends and provide direct hire metrics. Participate in the survey by Feb. 23 to get the staffing industry information you’re looking for.

After the seasonal end-of-year dip in December, staffing employment rose in the week of Jan. 8–14, with the ASA Staffing Index increasing by 4.0% to a rounded value of 88. Some staffing companies mentioned a holiday and inclement weather as primary factors that limited further growth. Despite two straight weeks of growth, staffing jobs were 12.5% below the same week last year.

New starts in the second week of the year were up 19.2% from the prior week. Almost half of all staffing companies (48%) reported gains in new assignments week to week.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased from the prior week to a rounded value of 86, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Jan. 14 was 9.6% lower than the same period in 2023.

“Staffing employment is rising in line with seasonal patterns of expansion, but its momentum is lagging behind prior years due to accelerated economic headwinds within the broader labor market,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA.

This week will be used in the January monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Feb. 2.

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2023 is now open. Staffing companies that complete the brief survey by Feb. 23 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 is looking for subject matter experts in the staffing industry to share their experience and expertise with the ASA community in 2024. Submit a proposal for Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, which this year takes place Oct. 22–24 in Nashville, TN. Proposals for Staffing World breakout sessions—interactive presentations between 60 and 75 minutes long—are due Jan. 31.

ASA also is accepting proposals for ASA Webinars—virtual programs, typically 60 minutes long (due Jan. 31)—and for Staffing World Knowledge Hub Tech Talks and Speed Talks—10-minute talks on technology topics or broader industry topics (due May 31). For more information and to start your submission, visit americanstaffing.net.

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the fourth quarter of 2023 is now open. Staffing companies that complete the brief survey by Feb. 23—including search and placement firms—will have access to an exclusive report on the results, enhanced with graphs. The report, which participants can download from the ASA website, also includes an executive summary, plus sales category 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.

Are you ready to safeguard your company’s future and be prepared to weather any forecast? The ASA Growth Tool Kit was developed especially for staffing companies—it’s designed to empower them with the data, analysis, and business intelligence they need to weather any economic challenge and to take advantage of opportunities that can accelerate growth.

The ASA Growth Tool Kit is a comprehensive repository of resources such as economic, business, and industry news; educational resources; articles, market analysis, and economic research. Access the ASA Growth Tool Kit at americanstaffing.net.