Temporary and contract staffing employment was 2.9% higher for the week of July 9 to July 15 than the same week last year, accelerating back to a pace of growth the index has not seen for this particular week since 2014, according to the American Staffing Association’s staffing index. Some survey respondents cited the lingering effect of the Independence Day holiday as a factor that hindered further growth of temporary and contract jobs.

Week-over-week, the ASA Staffing Index jumped 6.7% to a rounded value of 98 for the week, bouncing back from last week’s holiday dip to a historically high level for the 28th week of the year. 

The index’s four-week moving average edged up but remained at a rounded figure of 96, the strongest reading for the same period in 11 years. Year over year, the four-week average rose 2.2%.