The American Staffing Association’s staffing index edged up a reading of 98.61 in the week of Oct. 9 to Oct. 16. Staffing employment was up 1.32% compared to the same week last year.

Temporary and contract staffing employment was 0.09% higher than the prior week, with some survey respondents citing temporary-to-hire conversions as a condition that impeded growth.

The index’s four-week moving average rose to 98.40, the strongest reading so far in 2017. Year over year, the four-week average rose 1.88%.