The Canadian staffing index, which measures staffing activity in Canada, edged down 1% in May on a year-over-year basis to a reading of 109.

“In May, the volume of billed hours appeared roughly unchanged from last year,” said Maxim Kupfer, research analyst at Staffing Industry Analysts. “After signs of modest growth in the first three months of the year, the evidence of growth appears to have softened a bit.”

On a month-over-month basis, the index rose 2% in May.

The Canadian Staffing Index measures the hours of labor performed by a sampling of temporary and contract workers in the staffing industry. Staffing Industry Analysts produces the index on behalf of the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services.