News Release

Nov. 24, 2009

Demand for temporary and contract staffing continued to rise steadily from October to November, according to the ASA Staffing Index. The index began the monthly period, starting the week of Oct. 12, at a level of 83. During the subsequent four weeks, Oct. 19–Nov. 15, the index progressively increased, reaching its current level of 85.

The week of Oct. 19, the index rose 0.64% and remained at 83. The following week, Oct. 26–Nov. 1, the index experienced a larger increase of 1.36%, pushing the index up to 84. The week of Nov. 2–8, the index rose 0.67%, resulting in a higher index level of 85. A 0.51% increase in the index during the last week of the period measured, Nov. 9–15, maintained the index at 85.

Staffing industry job growth has increased 21% since July 2009, but temporary and contract employment for the monthly period of Oct. 12–Nov. 15 remains 9% below that of the same five weeks in 2008.

The ASA Staffing Index is reported nine days after each workweek, making it a virtual real-time measure of staffing employment trends. The reference level for the index was set at 100 in June 2006. The current level of 85 suggests that staffing employment is 15% lower than in June 2006.

Index weeks containing the 12th are compared monthly to match the reference periods used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its monthly employment situation reports, which contain data on the temporary help industry. Because the same reference period is used in both the ASA Staffing Index and BLS monthly reports, the two data series can be easily compared. ASA data are not adjusted for seasonal factors and should be compared to nonseasonally adjusted BLS data.

ASA research shows that staffing employment is a coincident economic indicator and leading employment indicator, especially when the economy is emerging from a recession.

Data for the index are gathered by ASA corporate partner Inavero Institute for Service Research, a market research firm based in Portland, OR.

For more information visit americanstaffing.net.

Interviews with ASA executives are available.

The American Staffing Association promotes legal, ethical, and professional practices for the $86 billion U.S. staffing industry. ASA members account for 85% of U.S. staffing industry sales and operate more than 15,000 offices throughout the nation. Some 2.7 million Americans go to work for U.S. staffing companies every business day.

Founded to promote flexible employment opportunities and ensure the quality of staffing services, ASA has been the voice of the U.S. staffing industry since 1966. Members provide a wide range of employment services and solutions, including temporary and contract staffing, recruiting and permanent placement, outplacement and outsourcing, training, and human resource consulting. ASA and its affiliated chapters promote the interests of the industry through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and the establishment of high standards of ethical conduct.

Contact
Reem El-Khatib
Public Relations Coordinator
703-253-2047
relkhatib@americanstaffing.net