New Starts Down Due to Labor Day
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, September 2020
Staffing employment for the week of Sept. 7–13 was relatively unchanged (-0.02%) from the prior week, holding at a value of 78, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Several survey respondents mentioned the Labor Day holiday and temporary-to-hire conversions as factors that negatively impacted growth. Staffing jobs were down 19.6% from the same week last year, which did not include Labor Day.
Not surprisingly, new starts were more heavily impacted by the holiday—down 12.8% on average, with 30% of staffing companies reporting gains in new assignments week-to-week.
“Despite the holiday, staffing employment held steady week-to-week and continues to show early signs that staffing jobs are on the road to recovery,” said Cynthia Davidson, ASA senior director of research.
The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average held at a value of 77. Temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending Sept. 13 was 18.8% lower than the same period in 2019.
This week, containing the 12th day of the month, will be used in the September monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Oct. 2.
The ASA Staffing Index is reported nine days after each workweek, making it a near real-time measure of staffing employment trends. ASA Staffing Starts are the number of temporary and contract employees placed in new assignments during the reporting week. ASA research shows that staffing employment has historically been a coincident economic indicator.
For more information, visit americanstaffing.net/index. Or follow ASA research 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, February 2020 Staffing employment for the week of Feb. 10–16 eased 0.34% from the prior week, decreasing for the fourth week in a row, according to the ASA Staffing Index. A few survey respondents cited temporary-to-hire conversions and the Presidents Day holiday as factors limiting growth. Staffing jobs were down… More ›
New Assignments on the Rise ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, August 2020 Staffing jobs for the week of Aug. 10–16 edged up 0.7% from the prior week, holding at a value of 75, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Week-to-week staffing employment growth has been steady over the past three months, with the exception of… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, January 2019 Staffing jobs for the week of Jan. 6–12 surged 6.0% from the prior week, increasing to a value of 87, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Survey respondents cited the lingering effect of the holidays as a factor impeding further growth. Staffing employment was down 7.2% from the… More ›
New Starts Pick Up Pace ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, October 2020 Staffing employment for the week of Oct. 12–18 expanded 2.0% from the prior week, increasing to a rounded value of 85, according to the ASA Staffing Index. This week marks the largest week-to-week increase for the comparative week since the inception of the… More ›
New Starts Continue Upward Trend ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, November 2020 Staffing employment for the week of Nov. 9–15 edged up 0.4% from the prior week, holding at a value of 88 despite the Veterans Day holiday, according to the ASA Staffing Index. November marks a ten-month high for staffing jobs, as the index… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, March 2020 Staffing employment for the week of March 9–15 eased 0.6% from the prior week, edging down to a value of 85, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Survey respondents cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the main factor contributing to the contraction. Temporary and contract staffing jobs were down… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, April 2020 Staffing jobs for the week of April 6–12 contracted 4.9% from the prior week, decreasing to a rounded value of 62, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Not surprisingly, survey respondents continue to mention the COVID-19 pandemic as the predominant factor for the decline. Year-to-year, staffing employment was… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, May 2020 Staffing jobs for the week of May 11–17 increased 1.2% from the prior week, ticking up to a rounded value of 61, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Although staffing employment was down 36.0% year-to-year, this marks the third consecutive week that the index has advanced amidst the… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, June 2020 Staffing employment for the week of June 8–14 rose 2.5% from the prior week, increasing to a value of 67 and rebounding above the Great Recession trough of 66, according to the ASA Staffing Index. While the index has climbed for the past seven consecutive weeks, staffing jobs… More ›
ASA Staffing Index Monthly Report, July 2020 Staffing employment for the week of July 6–12 grew 2.2% from the prior week, increasing to a rounded value of 70 and offsetting last week’s holiday decline, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Survey respondents cited the lingering effects of the Independence Day holiday as well as continued… More ›
