The week of July 8, 2025

Weekly Economic & Business Outlook

Latest Economic Outlook
  • Gains in nonfarm payroll jobs and job listings signal a robust labor market.
  • Most of these gains, however, are still reserved to select industries, with stagnation elsewhere.
  • The stable, yet stagnant, job market means both rate cuts and staffing recovery are likely to be further postponed.
Latest Staffing Research
  • While entry-level hires increased 6.6% from May 2024 to 2025, entry-level applications grew 22%.
  • Unemployment among recent college graduates was 5.8% in March, a 12-year high excluding the pandemic years.
  • Entry-level applications grew the most for manufacturing (37%), slower for health care (12%).

The ASA Weekly Economic Business Outlook is for members of the American Staffing Association.

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This Week’s Economic Outlook
  • Average hourly earnings have struggled to keep pace with inflation.
  • Compensation will continue to outpace inflation given declining inflation, moderating labor market dynamics, and lower interest rates.
  • Staffing firms can keep offers competitive by accounting for inflation dynamics.
This Week’s Staffing Research
  • Elevated inflation and interest rates have increased compensation demands by workers.
  • A recent ASA Workforce Monitor® found many U.S. workers are still concerned about their finances.
  • Pessimism among workers regarding their finances has reduced labor churn.

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