The Canadian staffing index fell 17% in December from November and also edged down 2% when compared with December of 2015. The index, which measures staffing activity in Canada, fell to a reading of 96 from a reading of 116 in November. The number of working days in December 2016 fell 5% when compared to the prior year.

“December suggests another month of modest growth year-over-year in volume, as the index declined by a smaller amount than the decline in working days,” said Timothy Landhuis, research manager at Staffing Industry Analysts. “December volume was down sequentially from November following the normal year-end seasonal pattern.”

Staffing Industry Analysts produces the index on behalf of the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services.