$$ Staffing Index Pushes Higher

Coupled with yesterday ISM #’s this report backs the continued view things are improving.

Weekly Report:
Oct. 18–24, 2010

During the week of Oct. 18–24, 2010, temporary and contract employment increased 0.75%, pushing the ASA Staffing Index up one point to a value of 101.

At a current index value of 101, U.S. staffing employment is 46% higher than the level reported for the first week of the current year and is 22% higher than the same weekly period in 2009.

Monthly Report:
October 2010

Staffing employment in October is 20% higher than in the same month last year, according to the ASA Staffing Index. The index for October is 100, up four points from 96 for September, suggesting that staffing employment has increased about 4% over the past month. Staffing employment in October is 20% higher than in the same month last year, according to the ASA Staffing Index.

The ASA Staffing Index is reported nine days after each workweek, making it a virtual real-time measure of staffing employment trends. ASA research shows that staffing employment is a coincident economic indicator and leading employment indicator, especially when the economy is emerging from a recession. Data for the index are gathered by ASA research partner Inavero, a market research firm based in Portland, OR.