Staffing Employment Up 5.2% From a Year Ago

Temporary help employment showed little change from January to February (-0.3%), and was 5.2% higher than in February 2014, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Year-to-year staffing job growth has averaged 5.6% over the past 12 months.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that temporary help employment decreased 0.2% from January. Year-to-year, there were 5.7% more staffing employees in February than in the same month last year.

“Although inclement weather had some effect on industry employment in February, staffing firms report that client demand for temporary and permanent workers remains robust across most sectors,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “The February jobs report is further evidence of continued labor market momentum, translating to more employment opportunities for job seekers.”

Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 295,000 jobs in February (seasonally adjusted), BLS reported. Incorporating revisions for December and January, the data showed that monthly job gains averaged 288,000 over the past three months, greater than an average of 266,000 for the prior 12 months.

The unemployment rate in February edged down to 5.5% from 5.7% in January.

BLS also released preliminary January employment data for search and placement services, which decreased 1.2% from December, seasonally adjusted. Search and placement jobs totaled 311,100 in January, 8.9% higher than in the same month last year.

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About the American Staffing Association

The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.