Temporary staffing hours worked fell 4.0% year over year in the week ended Jan. 28, but they were up 3.0% from the previous week, according to the SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator released today.

Commercial staffing hours and professional staffing hours each fell 4.0% year over year; on a week-over-week sequential basis, commercial temporary staffing hours rose 2.7%, while professional temporary staffing hours increased 4.1%.

“The year-over-year decline in staffing hours worked is roughly similar to the decline in temporary help employment as reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February US Jobs Report (regarding mid-January activity), indicating temporary employment was 0.4% lower than in January 2022,” the report states. “Such a pullback is not surprising, given the record volume levels achieved in many segments of staffing in 2022 and in the face of current headwinds such as inflation, elevated interest rates and general economic slowing.”

The full SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator report is available online.