ASA Staffing Index Holds at 99 in December

Staffing employment for the week of Dec. 11–17 softened to 99.66, but it remained above a value of 99 in eight of the past nine weeks, according to the ASA Staffing Index. Temporary and contract staffing employment was 0.28% lower than the prior week, with survey respondents attributing the decline to seasonal business fluctuations. Staffing employment was 0.41% higher than the same week last year. This week, containing the 12th, will be used in the December monthly employment situation report that will be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Jan. 5, 2018. The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average decreased from 99.14 to 98.85 but remained above a value of 98 for the 11th consecutive four-week period. Staffing employment for the four weeks ending Dec. 17 was 0.42% higher year-to-year.