Up 4.1% From a Year Ago, Pace of Growth Steady
Temporary help employment grew 0.6% from September to October, and was 4.1% higher than in October 2016, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Year-to-year staffing job growth has averaged 4.1% per month in the first 10 months of 2017, significantly higher than the average of 1.4% for full-year 2016, as reported by BLS earlier this year following a series of downward adjustments.
Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that temporary help employment increased 2.5% from September to October. Year-to-year, there were 4.1% more staffing employees in October than in the same month last year.
“With 85 consecutive months of job growth, the labor market remains healthy and staffing firms continued to see good demand in October across most sectors, helping businesses strategically expand their labor forces,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “However, with the labor force participation rate declining again in October, finding qualified talent continues to be a challenge and a top priority for American businesses.”
Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 261,000 jobs in October (seasonally adjusted), BLS reported. Incorporating revisions for August and September, job gains averaged 162,000 per month over the past three months, slightly more than the average of 156,000 for the prior 12 months.
The unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1% in October, the lowest since December 2000.
BLS also released preliminary September employment data for search and placement services, which, seasonally adjusted, decreased 0.7% from August. Search and placement jobs totaled 293,500 in September, 0.6% lower than in the same month last year.
For more information, visit americanstaffing.net/bls-data. You can also follow ASA on Twitter.
# # #
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.
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 ›
Economic activity increased across all 12 Federal Reserve districts, according to the Federal Reserve Board’s latest report on regional economies (known as the “beige book”). The pace of growth was split between modest and moderate. Employment growth was modest, and labor markets were tight. Employers in many districts struggled to find qualified workers, and these… 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, 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 ›
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 ›
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, 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 ›
“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 ›
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 ›