The week of January 22, 2026

Weekly Economic & Business Outlook

Latest Economic Outlook
  • Despite uncertainty about AI’s true productivity gains, employers widely embrace it as the future of work, fueling discussion among global leaders at Davos.
  • Buzz around AI is already reshaping labor markets, as research shows young workers face declining job prospects in occupations most vulnerable to automation.
  • If sustained, these trends may weaken worker loyalty, widen labor market inequality, and push younger workers toward flexible jobs to manage AI-driven insecurity.
Latest Staffing Research
  • Jobs Report prioritizes accuracy over timeliness; late responses and corrections drive revisions, meaning payroll and temporary employment estimates routinely change as more complete data arrives.
  • Temporary Help Services revisions follow patterns: upward when hiring rises, downward when it falls; most revisions are small, with 80 percent under 20,000 outside recessions.
  • In 2025, revisions skew slightly downward but remain minor; stabilization and several upward revisions suggest a potential Temporary Help Services employment recovery in 2026.

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

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Staffing in 60 Seconds

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 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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