Healthcare and IT staffing firms are the most popular targets for acquisition last year by other staffing firms looking to acquire, according to a survey of 128 staffing firms by Staffing Industry Analysts. Data from the survey are included in a report “Selling Your Staffing Firm: M&A Advisors, Valuations, List of Acquirers & Contact Information,” which also offers information on acquisition multiples, M&A advisors, and lists 100 specific companies seeking to acquire staffing firms.

Firms were asked their first preference when making an acquisition. Of the respondents, 26% cited their first acquisition preference would be a healthcare staffing firm. The second-most cited were IT staffing firms by 24%.

Industrial staffing firms came next, cited by 17%, followed by IT solutions/statement-of-work providers at 13% and office/clerical at 5%.

The survey also asked staffing firms that selected the US as their first preferred area in which to make an acquisition, which US region would be their first preference. The Northeast and West regions came out on top with 25% of respondents each pointing to them as their first choices for an acquisition. The Midwest came in third with 19% of firms citing that region as their first preference when looking to make an acquisition.

Corporate members of SIA can download the full report.