The week of May 30, 2025

Weekly Economic & Business Outlook

Latest Economic Outlook
  • Employers cannot get enough employees with certain skill sets, thereby creating today’s skills gap.
  • Many skills within the fastest-growing quintile of occupations are considered cognitive skills.
  • Employers want more employees with better cognitive skills so they can drive productivity efforts.
Latest Staffing Research
  • The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index has regained ground lost during the first quarter.
  • However, there is divergence between the present assessment and declining future expectations. 
  • Will this second quarter rally in optimism be just a blip between periods of economic difficulty?

The ASA Weekly Economic Business Outlook is for members of the American Staffing Association.

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Here’s an abridged preview of our latest insights on the current state of the staffing industry and the economy at large. It’s the most powerful and targeted data and analysis tool available to staffing professionals—released exclusively to ASA members on Mondays, each and every week!

 

This Week’s Economic Outlook
  • Average hourly earnings have struggled to keep pace with inflation.
  • Compensation will continue to outpace inflation given declining inflation, moderating labor market dynamics, and lower interest rates.
  • Staffing firms can keep offers competitive by accounting for inflation dynamics.
This Week’s Staffing Research
  • Elevated inflation and interest rates have increased compensation demands by workers.
  • A recent ASA Workforce Monitor® found many U.S. workers are still concerned about their finances.
  • Pessimism among workers regarding their finances has reduced labor churn.

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