The week of December 4, 2025

Weekly Economic & Business Outlook

Latest Economic Outlook
  • Employers are broadly slowing hiring yet avoiding layoffs.
  • Business/financial operations is the only area with rising hiring and attrition.
  • Several high-turnover fields show attrition falling faster than hiring, signaling a frozen labor market.
Latest Staffing Research
  • Unemployment among bachelor’s degree holders, age 20–24, was 9.3% in August 2025, the highest since 9.4% in July 2021.
  • Employers rate the hiring market for new graduates as “fair,” and expect hiring demand for the class of 2026 to grow a tepid 1.6% from 2025.
  • Employers will be impressed by candidates who can demonstrate the applicability of skills learned during their studies.

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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