Up 0.8% From a Year Ago, Pace of Growth Eases
Temporary help employment showed little change from November to December (-0.5%), according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staffing employment was 0.8% higher than in December 2015. Year-to-year staffing job growth averaged 1.7% in 2016—a significantly slower pace than the average of 4.2% in 2015.
Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that temporary help employment was essentially flat (-0.2%) from November to December. Year-to-year, there were 1.6% more staffing employees in December than in the same month last year.
Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 156,000 jobs in December (seasonally adjusted), BLS reported—marking the 75th consecutive month of job growth. Incorporating revisions for October and November, job gains averaged 165,000 per month over the past three months, less than the average of 189,000 for the prior 12 months, and significantly lower than the average of 229,000 in 2015.
“It was a bumpy year for U.S. labor markets as employers in many sectors struggled to find qualified talent while others continued to very cautiously add to their headcounts in a slow growth environment,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “Today’s jobs report, which showed that 2016 finished up with the slowest rate of annual employment growth in several years, underscores the importance of Congress and the new administration working together to continue to stimulate economic growth and job creation.”
The unemployment rate was little changed at 4.7% in December, up from 4.6% in November.
BLS also released preliminary November employment data for search and placement services, which, seasonally adjusted, increased 0.9% from October. Search and placement jobs totaled 323,600 in November, 4.8% higher than in the same month last year.
For more information, visit the ASA newsroom. Interviews with ASA executives are available.
# # #
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.
Seasonally adjusted employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that staffing firms added 16,000 new jobs from January to February (up More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, December 2014 ASA Staffing Index Continues to Climb Staffing employment for the week of Dec. 8–14 rose to 107.54, according to the ASA Staffing Index—the highest value since the index’s inception in June 2006. Temporary and contract staffing employment increased 0.40% from the prior week, and was 4.18% higher than… More ›
Top 10 List of Occupations Difficult to Fill The American Staffing Association’s Skills Gap Index identified the hardest-to-fill occupations in the U.S. for the third quarter of 2015, with the 10 most difficult being Podiatrists Photographic process workers and processing machine operators Occupational therapists Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Psychiatrists Forest fire inspectors and prevention… More ›
Staffing Job Growth Trend Continues Temporary help employment edged up 0.5% from October to November, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staffing firms added 14,300 jobs in November, which was 1.9% higher than November 2015. Over the past six months, year-to-year job growth has averaged 1.6% per… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, October 2017 Staffing employment for the week of Oct. 9–15 edged up to 98.61, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Temporary and contract staffing employment was 0.09% higher than the prior week, with some survey respondents citing temporary-to-hire conversions as a condition that impeded growth. Staffing employment was 1.32% higher… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, August 2018 The ASA Staffing Index for the week of Aug. 6–12 strengthened by 0.7% to a rounded value of 101—the third consecutive week the index has reached record highs for their comparable weeks. This also marks the first time the index has reached a rounded figure of 101 before… More ›
“Over the year, employment in professional and business services [which includes staffing] has expanded by 648,000,” said BLS commissioner Erica L. Groshen, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More ›
Seasonally adjusted employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that staffing firms added 25,600 new jobs from April to May (up 1.0%). More ›
Top 10 List of Occupations Difficult to Fill The American Staffing Association’s Skills Gap Index identified 181 hard-to-fill occupations in the U.S. for the 12 months ended March 2015, with the 10 most difficult being Occupational therapists Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers Physical therapists Photographic process workers and processing machine operators Occupational therapy assistants Speech-language… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, April 2016 Staffing employment for the week of April 11–17 edged up to 94.62, according to the ASA Staffing Index— the highest value this year. Temporary and contract staffing employment was up 0.38% from the prior week, and was 2.71% lower than the same week last year. This week, containing… More ›
