BLS: Staffing Jobs Continue Robust Growth

Seasonally adjusted employment data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that temporary help services employment added 28,500 new jobs in March (up 1.0% from February). “Employment growth in temporary help services had averaged 20,000 per month in the prior 12 months,” said BLS Commissioner Erica L. Groshen.

In a year-to-year comparison, staffing firms employed 9.6% more temporary workers in March than in the same month a year ago, according to BLS. That was the strongest year-to-year growth since the summer of 2012.

Nonseasonally adjusted BLS data, which estimate the actual number of jobs in the economy, indicated that staffing employment increased by 59,300 in March (up 2.2% from February). On a year-to-year basis, there were 10.0% more staffing employees in March than in the same month last year.

“Staffing and recruiting companies are helping businesses strategically expand their labor forces in this period of continued moderate economic growth,” says Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of the American Staffing Association. “Staffing and recruiting firms place talent across the full spectrum of occupations. Now’s a good time for job seekers to contact local recruiters to determine what skills-sets are currently in demand in their area.”

Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192,000 jobs in March, BLS reported. Monthly job gains averaged 183,000 in the prior 12 months. The March unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7%.

BLS also released preliminary February employment data for search and placement services: seasonally adjusted at 307,300, an increase of 2,000 (0.6%) from January.

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The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing industry. ASA and its affiliated chapters advance the interests of staffing and recruiting firms of all sizes and across all sectors through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. ASA members provide the full range of employment and work force services and solutions, including temporary and contract staffing, recruiting and permanent placement, outplacement and outsourcing, training, and human resource consulting.