The agenda for this year’s ASA annual convention and expo has been carefully designed to align with your firm’s strategic goals and address the key gaps in your business. If you’re not sure you can afford the time or budget for Staffing World^® this year, check out the agenda to see how Staffing World will fill gaps and pay dividends for your business in 2025 and beyond. You can also download the new Staffing World Gap Analysis Worksheet to help you match sessions to your greatest areas of need.

Join your peers this month at Staffing World, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. Register today for the best rates available.

U.S. staffing companies employed an average of almost 2.2 million temporary and contract workers per week in the second quarter of 2024, according to data released today by the American Staffing Association—down 44,000 jobs from the first quarter of 2024. Staffing sales reached a total of $31.0 billion in the second quarter of 2024, marking a 1.6% decline from the first quarter and a 13.8% decline from the previous year. As seen in 2023, this contraction bucks the seasonal trend of consistent sequential growth within the staffing industry from the second to fourth quarters of the year. Private staffing companies remain cautious about the future, expecting their fourth quarter revenue to be essentially flat (a median -0.4%) year-to-year, and their full year 2024 sales to be down a median 3.2% compared with 2023.

Staffing World^® is less than a month away! The expo hall is nearly sold out; the special block of ASA rooms at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is nearly full; and agenda for the industry’s largest, most powerful learning and networking event is packed with valuable sessions designed to address the gaps staffing firms must fill to achieve growth.

Here are some important reminders for the all those staffing professional leaders who will be attending as well as those who are still planning their Staffing World experience.

• Remember the 15% team discount. After one staffing professional purchases a full registration package from your company, all subsequent full registration packages in your online cart will reflect the discount. Take advantage of the discount and maximize your Staffing World experience when you send multiple people from your company.
• Only make your room reservation through ASA. The association is aware that illegitimate third parties have been reaching out to individuals about making hotel room reservations through them. Make your reservation by calling the Gaylord Opryland directly or by using the online form on the Staffing World website.
• New this year: Staffing’s Got Talent! Powered by RefAssured, Staffing’s Got Talent will showcase the musical talents of several ASA members who will take the stage on Tuesday evening during the Nash Bash-themed reception at the Expo Grand Opening. You won’t want to miss it.
• Add a preconvention program—choose Sales or Leadership. Before Staffing World kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, there are two preconvention programs available. Read more about them and then add one to your Staffing World package.

ASA looks forward to seeing the best in the staffing and recruiting industry soon in Nashville, TN, for Staffing World. Questions? Email sw@americanstaffing.net or call 703-253-2020.

In today’s tough staffing landscape, you need proven strategies and tactics to help you meet and exceed your sales goals. The best place to gain these insights and tools is at Staffing World^®—think of it as a revenue generator, not an expense. The agenda for this year’s ASA annual convention and expo has been designed to help you address the gaps your firm is struggling with, leverage opportunities for growth, and create your best future.

Your company can’t afford to miss Staffing World this year—Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. Explore the agenda to find sessions that will teach you tactics to drive immediate revenue growth for your firm, then register at staffingworld.net.

Staffing employment increased during the week of Sept. 9–15, with the ASA Staffing Index rising by 1.6% back to a rounded value of 90. Staffing jobs were down 11.2% compared with the same week last year, narrowing the gap by around a half percentage point from the previous week. Many staffing companies still listed the Labor Day holiday as a primary factor that prevented further growth.

New starts also rose in the 37th week of the year, up by 9.7% from the prior week. Close to six in 10 staffing companies (56%) reported gains in new assignments week-to-week, well above the average of 42% per week so far this year.

The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased slightly from the prior week to hold at a rounded value of 89, and temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Sept. 15 was 11.5% lower than the same period in 2023.

“Unlike the slow recovery following the Fourth of July holiday, the index recovered from the Labor Day holiday quickly. Although the labor market is more volatile than it was three months ago, the Labor Day rebound suggests the Fed’s recent actions are leading to a sense of cautious optimism among employers. The expectation for a long-term rebound in labor market conditions is likely to begin rebalancing the scales in the staffing industry’s favor,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA.

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

Don’t miss Staffing World^® 2024, the ASA annual convention and expo—your opportunity to make strategic connections, learn about new developments, and get solutions to win business and spur growth. This year’s event takes place Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. That’s also where THRIVE Live and two preconvention programs will take place.

You can download the new Staffing World Gap Analysis Worksheet to determine which educational sessions will help you address your areas of greatest need.

The deadline to register for Staffing World at the advance registration rate is Sept. 21. The deadline to secure special room rates at the Gaylord is Sept. 27. Learn more and register today at staffingworld.net.

ASA has named John Ruffini, vice president of professional development at HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, the 2024 Volunteer of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year award is selected through nominations from volunteer peers from across the country.

“John Ruffini’s commitment to leadership and service has earned him respect throughout the staffing industry,” said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA. “John’s tireless efforts to mentor and support his colleagues embody the spirit of the ASA community. We’re excited to celebrate John next month at Staffing World^®.”

Ruffini’s impact on ASA over the past decade is extensive. Currently, he serves as the chair of the education and certification committee as well as the health care section council, where he leads the networking and events working group. In addition, he has twice been chair of the direct hire section council, has served on the search and placement council and the operational excellence task force, and is a mentor in the ASA Mentor Match program.

When asked why he volunteers with ASA, Ruffini stated, “The people you will meet through ASA will enrich your life professionally and personally…. The opportunity is there for you; you just have to take that first step.”

Ruffini will be honored during a ceremony at Staffing World, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

Come to Staffing World^® 2024, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN, to create your best future alongside the industry’s brightest leaders. One way you can gain a competitive edge is by accessing the latest trends, best practices, and emerging innovations in the Staffing World Knowledge Hub.

The Knowledge Hub at Staffing World provides a vibrant community where you can engage with industry leaders, share ideas, and gain valuable insights by listening to Speed Talks and Tech Talks. Mix and match these microlearning opportunities to customize your learning experience to suit your unique needs.

At Speed Talks, join a distinguished group of visionaries for unique, fast-paced networking and thought leadership discussions. These 10-minute sessions are easy to fit in during lunch and refreshment breaks. During Tech Talks, you can get all the technology-related answers you need in 10-minute presentations by technology experts that address staffing-specific tech challenges.

Knowledge Hub sessions take place in the expo hall Tuesday, Oct. 22, 5:30−6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 23, 12:30−2 p.m. and 6−7 p.m.; and Thursday, Oct. 24, 12:30−1:15 p.m. Learn more about Staffing World and register today at staffingworld.net.

The agenda for this year’s ASA annual convention and expo has been carefully designed to align with your firm’s strategic goals and address the key gaps in your business. If you’re not sure you can afford the time or budget for Staffing World^® this year, check out the agenda to see how Staffing World will fill gaps and pay dividends for your business in 2025 and beyond. You can also download the new Staffing World Gap Analysis Worksheet to help you match sessions to your greatest areas of need.

Join your peers next month at Staffing World, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. Register by Sept. 21 to save up to $300 per person, and then share the news on social media to encourage your colleagues to meet up with you there.

Join a community of driven women in staffing—along with their allies and advocates—and embark on a journey of personal and professional growth at THRIVE Live next month. This year’s event, presented by the ASA women in leadership interest group, takes place Oct. 21–22 in Nashville, TN.

Some of the insightful, impactful speakers you won’t want to miss include

• Shelley Paxton (former chief marketing officer at Harley-Davidson and a best-selling author), Opening Keynote Presentation—I Quit So You Don’t Have to: Life and Leadership Lessons I Wish I Had Known Sooner
• Molly Fletcher (entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and former sports agent), Keynote Presentation—Unleash Your Potential
• Ella F. Washington, Ph.D. (chief executive officer of Ellavate Solutions), Keynote Presentation—Speaking the Unspoken: Strategies for Navigating Tacit Rules in the Workplace
• Christine Sandman Stone (chief executive officer and founder of Deliver at Scale), Executive Breakout Session—Getting Sh*t Done: Modern Leadership to Deliver at a New Scale
• Karla Dougherty (principal at Butler Street), Emerging Leader Breakout Session—Lost in Translation: Leadership Communication
• Fawn Germer (author and journalist), Closing Keynote Presentation—Hard-Won Wisdom

Learn more and register at americanstaffing.net/thrive by Sept. 21—rates will increase after that date. The ASA women in leadership interest group is sponsored by ASA corporate partners Bullhorn, ClearlyRated, and Essential StaffCARE, and by Avionté, ClearEdge, Marsh McLennan Agency, Mee Derby, and Sense.