U.S. staffing companies employed an average of two million temporary and contract workers per week in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to data released today by the American Staffing Association—up by 65,000 workers from the third quarter.
A decline in year-to-year total staffing employment narrowed to 6.1% in the fourth quarter, an improvement from a year-to-year decline of 7.5% recorded in the third quarter.
The ASA Staffing Employment and Sales Survey showed that temporary and contract staffing sales likewise improved in the fourth quarter, rising 2.6% from the third quarter to total of $29.9 billion. Fourth quarter sales fell 6.2% year-to-year, an improvement over the 8.5% decline in the third quarter.
On a quarter-to-quarter basis, temporary and contract staffing employment and sales typically decline in the first quarter, grow in subsequent quarters, and peak in the fourth quarter.
Temporary and contract staffing employment fell to 9.5 million for the full year, a decrease of 8.5% from 2024. Staffing sales totaled $113.5 billion, down 8.5% from 2024.
The 2025 staffing industry’s turnover rate fell to 376%, compared with 416% in 2024.
“While the low-hire, low-fire labor market tempered demand in 2025, there are signs of stabilization,” said Stephen Dwyer, ASA chief executive officer. “The fourth quarter increase in average weekly employment and growth in sales reflect the cautious investments employers are increasingly making in flexible and contract talent.”
Note: While the ASA Staffing Index and the quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey use similar underlying methodology, the Staffing Employment and Sales Survey reflects average employment levels over a quarter, while the ASA Staffing Index calculates change in employment on a weekly basis.
As a result, the ASA Staffing Index may reflect emerging trends ahead of the Staffing Employment and Sales Survey. Nevertheless, both measures currently highlight a staffing industry that is showing signs of stabilization.
To learn more about the quarterly ASA Staffing Employment and Sales Survey, visit americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey, or follow ASA research on Twitter.
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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.