The ASA Staffing Index held at 88 in mid-August 2025, with staffing employment down -1.9% YoY, widening from the -1.1% YoY decline seen the prior week.

• New starts fell -7.2% WoW, with just 36% of staffing firms reporting gains, below the 2025 average of 42%.

• The four-week moving average ticked up to 88, though staffing employment over that period was still -1.2% YoY.

• Despite short-term weakness, the industry has rebounded swiftly from July’s holiday dip, suggesting stabilization after earlier volatility.

• Broader recovery remains constrained by a freeze in labor market activity, though steady demand for temporary workers persists.