US temporary staffing revenue rose a median 10% year over year in January among staffing firms taking part in Staffing Industry Analysts’ monthly Pulse Survey. The 10% growth in January is the same growth rate reported in December.

“In what has become a familiar story, the highlight in January was healthcare staffing while the lowlight was engineering/design staffing,” Research Analyst Ziv Tepman said. “Another trend we will continue to watch is the relatively low value of new order activity, which has persisted for the last three months. Still, the 10% median year-over-year revenue growth pace for temporary staffing as a whole reveals continued strength in the market.”

January was a remarkably weak month in engineering/design staffing. Median year-over-year revenue growth decelerated sharply to -5% while aggregate year-over-year revenue growth fell precipitously to -18%, both signs of significant contraction.

The report found median year-over-year revenue growth accelerated in the following staffing segments in January from December:

• Office/clerical: to 5% from 4%
• Industrial: to 6% from 5%
• IT: to 10% from 8%
• Allied healthcare: to 21% from 16%
• Finance/accounting: to 6% from 2%
• Legal: to 15% from 11%
• Clinical/scientific: 9%, prior month not available

Median year-over-year revenue growth decelerated in the following staffing segments in in January from December:

• Travel nursing: to 38% from 49%
• Per diem nursing: to 13% from 19%
• Locum tenens: to 23% from 33%
• Engineering/design: to -5% from 4%
• Marketing/creative: to 2% from 6%

Pulse Survey results are based on a monthly survey of US staffing firms. Data from the month of January was submitted by individuals from 141 staffing companies.

The full Pulse Survey Report is available to firms that take part in the survey. Features include data on bill rate trends, data split by US regions, and tables with a snapshot of year-over-year and month-over-month revenue growth for the most recent month.

The March Pulse Survey is upcoming, and there is still time to participate.