Canadian Staffing Industry index for August, strongest showing in 20 months

ACSESS Staffing Index Leaps Four Points

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - The Canadian Staffing Index for August was released this week by the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services (ACSESS).

Eleven points off of the July 2008 benchmark score of 100; the Canadian Staffing Industry index for August is the strongest showing in 20 months.

Canada's Staffing Industry provides employment for hundreds of thousands of Canadians delivering a flexible workforce that enables companies to meet their strategic objectives.  The Staffing Index is a measure of hours of service provided by the staffing industry and demonstrates the industry's contribution to the Canadian economy.  The score of 89 for August, reflects a strong 4 point increase from the previous month confirming that job creation, the economy and the staffing industry continue on a path to recovery.  

The Staffing Index is consistent with Statistics Canada's recent announcement of 36,000 jobs added in August.  

Steve Jones, ACSESS President, says, "Our industry continues on a long hard path to recovery.  We are providing Canadians with job opportunities and supporting Canada's economy with its flexible workforce. Contingent staffing is always the lead in to the creation of permanent traditional employment so the August results are cause for optimism supporting our belief that job creation and employment will continue to improve through the end of the year."

About the Canadian Staffing Index:

An Index value of 89 is the measure the hours of labour performed by temporary and contract staff in August 2010 compared to the benchmark index of 100 which was established in July 2008.  The recent increasing value indicates that companies are utilizing more contingent workers to supplement core staff to move product, ensure project completion and deliver services to their clients.  The data collected for the Canadian Staffing Index is the largest sample size ever collected in Canada offering valid, real time information. 

The growth of contract and temporary staff in August and the expected growth in September speak to normal seasonal increases based on students leaving the marketplace and the need for replacement staff.  This is also the beginning of the busiest logistics period in preparation for the Christmas and winter season.  Typical to the staffing industry trends, ACSESS members predict the Index will continue to show growth through late November. 

The Index is a "real time" indicator of the current state of the economy. ACSESS members in regions across Canada are reporting a significant boost in recruitment activity and simultaneously reporting difficulty in finding qualified staff to meet the needs. 

The data is collected by Staffing Industry Analysts, an independent co mpany specializing in the staffing industry.

The data is provided by a representative number of Canadian staffing companies providing services in the provinces across the country.

This "real-time data" supports U.S. evidence that the Staffing Industry is a barometer of economic performance.  The Canadian Staffing Index provides reliable information for economists, politicians, analysts, researchers and journalists in addition to members of the staffing industry to gain accurate information on current trends and visibility into near-future employment.

About ACSESS

ACSESS is the single voice for promoting best practices and ethical standards for the recruitment, employment and staffing services industry in Canada.  For more information visit: www.acsess.org

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts is the premier research and analysis firm covering temporary employment and the contingent workforce.  Known for its independent and objective insights, the company's proprietary research, data, support tools, publications and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing. In addition to temporary staffing, Staffing Industry Analysts also covers these related staffing sectors: third party placement, and staff leasing (PEOs).  Founded in 1989, the company is headquartered in Los Altos, California.  For more information visit: www.staffingindustry.com

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