Up 4.2% From a Year Ago, Continuing Steady Pace of Growth

Temporary help employment grew 0.5% from June to July, and was 4.2% higher than in July 2016, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Year-to-year staffing job growth has averaged 4.0% per month in the first seven months of 2017, significantly higher than the average of 1.4% for all of 2016.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that temporary help employment decreased 1.1% from June to July, generally consistent with historic July employment patterns. Year-to-year, there were 4.3% more staffing employees in July than in the same month last year.

“With close to six million current open positions in the U.S., staffing and recruiting firms continue to be challenged to find enough skilled workers to meet their clients’ temporary and permanent hiring needs across several sectors,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “Finding ways to close the skills gap must continue to be a top priority for policy makers, educators, and leaders within the business community.”

Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 209,000 jobs in July (seasonally adjusted), BLS reported. Incorporating revisions for May and June, job gains averaged 195,000 per month over the past three months, slightly more than the average of 187,000 for the prior 12 months.

The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3% in July, offsetting the prior month’s increase.

BLS also released preliminary June employment data for search and placement services, which, seasonally adjusted, edged down 0.3% from May. Search and placement jobs totaled 294,000 in June, 0.5% higher than in the same month last year.

For more information, visit americanstaffing.net/bls-data. You can also follow ASA on Twitter and Instagram.

# # #

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.