Staffing employment experienced a healthy rebound in the week after Independence Day, with the ASA Staffing Index rising to a rounded value of 85. The Index returned to its pre-July-Fourth level almost immediately—in a stark contrast to last year, when the recovery took more than two months. Many staffing companies still cited a holiday as a primary factor that hindered further growth. Staffing jobs were 2.8% lower relative to the same period last year, slightly widening the year-to-year gap observed the previous week.
New starts jumped up in the 28th week of the year, increasing 22.3% from the prior week. More than six in 10 staffing companies (64%) reported gains in new assignments week to week, above the average of 42% so far in 2025.
The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average increased from the previous week to hold at a rounded value of 84. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending July 13 was 3.9% below the same period in 2024.
“The speed and scale of recovery following the July Fourth dip suggests staffing industry employment has reached its trough, mirroring levels last seen after the Great Recession. Although the staffing industry has yet to see a more comprehensive recovery due to an ongoing freeze in labor market activity, the economy at large still very much has demand for temporary workers,” said Noah Yosif, chief economist at ASA.
This week will be used in the July monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Aug. 1.
