Weekly Report:
Oct. 12–Oct. 18, 2009
During the week of Oct. 12–Oct. 18, 2009, temporary and contract employment increased by 1.63%, pushing the ASA Staffing Index one point to 83.
The overall trend of steady growth in the index since the beginning of July indicates that staffing employment in the economy has been gradually increasing over the past three and a half months.
At a current index value of 83, staffing employment is 20.3% higher than it was at the beginning of this year. However, when compared with the same weekly period in 2008, the index indicates that there are approximately 11.7% fewer temporary workers currently employed in the U.S.
Monthly Report:
September 2009
Demand for temporary and contract staffing rose slightly from August to September, according to the ASA Staffing Index. The index began the monthly period, starting the week of Aug. 10–16, at 75. The index then increased to 76 the subsequent week, Aug. 17–23, where it remained for the following two weeks. The index rose an additional point to 77 during the last week of the monthly period measured, Sept. 7–13.
With the exception of the week that included the Labor Day holiday weekend, Aug. 31–Sept 6, when there was a slight dip in temporary and contract employment, the index has indicated gradual increases in staffing employment over the past nine weeks.
While employment in the industry has been steadily increasing over the past two months, staffing employment for the monthly period of Aug. 10–Sept. 13 is approximately 20.8% lower than for the same period in 2008.
