US temporary staffing revenue growth decelerated to a median 7% year over year in May from 9% in April among staffing firms taking part in Staffing Industry Analysts’ monthly Pulse survey.

However, “May was a bullish month for IT and finance/ accounting staffing segments,” SIA Research Analyst Sree Thiyagarajan said. “Industrial staffing also continued to show growth in May.”

Median year-over-year revenue growth decelerated in the following staffing segments in May from April:

• Marketing/creative: to 6% from 19%
• Legal: to 10% from 22%
• Engineering/design: to 10% from 17%
• Travel nursing: to -2% from 4%
• Allied healthcare: to 6% from 10%
• Office/clerical: to 3% from 6%

Median year-over-year revenue growth accelerated in the following staffing segments in May from April:

• Locum tenens: to 16% from 6%
• Clinical/scientific: to 12% from 5%
• Finance/accounting: to 8% from 3%
• Per diem nursing: to 10% from 7%
• Industrial staffing: to 6% from 4%

Median year-over-year revenue growth stayed the same for the IT staffing segment at 7%.

Median year-over-year revenue growth decreased 13% in direct hire to 10%.

The May report also found the net proportion of firms reporting an increasing trend in new orders fell to 39% from 46% in April — roughly in line with the last 12-month average of 40% for this metric.

Average sales difficulty fell to 2.69 in May from 2.74 in April (on a five-point scale, with five being most difficult), and average recruiting difficulty rose to 3.35 from 3.33 in the survey overall. Industrial staffing firms and staffing firms serving the healthcare and manufacturing industries all reported a decrease in average sales and recruiting challenge. Industrial staffing firms and those serving manufacturing reported the lowest average sales difficulty. IT staffing firms reported an increase in both sales and recruiting difficulty.

Starting with last month’s report covering April, the Pulse research now covers metrics by company size — including median year-over-year revenue growth, bill rates, new order trends, and sales and recruiting difficulties. US temporary staffing revenue rose a median 17% year over year in May for survey respondents with $10 million or less in US staffing revenue; 9% for those with $11 million to $200 million; and 4% at firms with more than $200 million in revenue.

Pulse survey results are based on a monthly survey of US staffing firms. Data from the month of May were submitted by individuals from 144 staffing companies. Corporate members of Staffing Industry Analysts can view a high-level summary of the report, and the full report is available to participants.

It’s free to take part, and the next Pulse Survey is currently underway. Participate now by selecting this link.