Temporary staffing is an important part of the U.S. workforce, providing businesses with flexible access to talent while giving workers opportunities to earn income, gain experience, and explore different career paths.
The staffing industry has also evolved over time. Current data from the American Staffing Association (ASA) shows that staffing companies continue to play a significant role in connecting workers and employers across a wide range of industries.
Here are a few staffing industry statistics that help illustrate the size and role of temporary and contract work.
How Many People Work Through Staffing Companies?
Staffing companies provide millions of job and career opportunities in the United States. According to the ASA, the staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry provided opportunities for approximately 11 million employees in 2024.
During an average week in 2024, nearly 2.2 million temporary and contract employees worked through America’s staffing companies.
That scale demonstrates that temporary and contract work is not a niche employment option. It is an established part of the workforce used by employers across many industries.
Temporary Work Can Be a Path to Your Next Job
Temporary employment can serve different purposes depending on the worker’s goals.
The ASA reports that 64% of staffing employees work through staffing companies to fill a gap between jobs or help land a job, while 20% cite scheduling flexibility as a reason for choosing temporary or contract work.
For job seekers, that flexibility can make temporary work useful when you’re:
- Between permanent jobs
- Looking for additional income
- Exploring a new industry
- Building your resume
- Developing new skills
- Looking for work that fits your schedule
If you’re ready to explore available opportunities, find work with LaborWorks and see how temporary employment can fit into your goals.
Staffing Jobs Span Many Industries
Temporary and contract workers aren’t limited to one type of position. Staffing employees work across a broad range of occupations and industries.
According to current ASA data, staffing employees work in industrial, office and administrative, professional and managerial, engineering and technology, scientific, and health care roles. Industrial positions make up the largest share at 36%.
For LaborWorks workers, opportunities can include industries such as construction, warehouse and distribution, manufacturing, hospitality, retail, event services, recycling, moving and storage, and more.
You can also explore LaborWorks opportunities in Colorado to learn more about the markets the company serves.
Why Do Employers Use Staffing Companies?
Staffing gives employers a way to respond to changing workforce needs without relying exclusively on permanent hiring.
Businesses may turn to staffing companies when they need to:
- Fill short-term workforce gaps
- Handle seasonal demand
- Add workers for specific projects
- Keep operations moving during busy periods
- Access workers with specific skills
- Adjust staffing levels as business needs change
The ASA notes that staffing clients use staffing companies to achieve workforce flexibility and access to talent.
That flexibility can be especially valuable when hiring conditions change quickly.
The Staffing Industry Continues to Evolve
Staffing employment can rise and fall alongside broader economic and labor-market conditions. Recent ASA data shows that temporary and contract staffing employment began showing signs of stabilization and growth during 2026.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, U.S. staffing companies employed an average of about 2 million temporary and contract workers per week, while staffing employment increased from the third quarter.
More recent ASA data also showed staffing employment growing compared with the same periods in 2025, highlighting continued demand for flexible workforce solutions.
What Do These Staffing Industry Statistics Mean for Workers?
The numbers show that temporary employment can be a meaningful part of a person’s career—not simply something to do while waiting for a permanent job.
Temporary work can provide opportunities to gain experience, develop skills, meet new employers, and determine what type of work is the right fit.
For employers, staffing provides another way to respond to changing demand while accessing workers when they need them.
Ultimately, the value of staffing comes down to connecting the right people with the right opportunities at the right time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the staffing industry?
The staffing industry connects workers with employers and provides services such as temporary and contract staffing, recruiting, permanent placement, and other workforce solutions.
How many people work through staffing companies?
The American Staffing Association reports that staffing companies provided job and career opportunities for about 11 million employees in 2024, with nearly 2.2 million temporary and contract employees working through staffing companies during an average week.
Why do people choose temporary work?
Workers may choose temporary employment for several reasons, including scheduling flexibility, opportunities to gain experience, filling a gap between jobs, and pursuing a path toward permanent employment.
What industries use temporary staffing?
Temporary and contract staffing is used across many industries and occupations, including industrial, administrative, professional, technology, scientific, health care, construction, warehouse, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail work.
Can temporary work lead to permanent employment?
Yes. Temporary employment can give workers an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and reliability while helping employers evaluate potential long-term hires. Depending on the employer and position, a temporary assignment may lead to permanent employment.
*All research, information, and image taken from the American Staffing
Association.