US staffing companies employed an average of 3.2 million temporary and contract workers per week in the third quarter, remaining above three million for four and a half years, according to data released by the American Staffing Association.

Staffing employment edged up 0.1% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. Compared to the second quarter, it was up 0.7%.

“In a growing economy and ever-tightening labor market, businesses are placing an even greater premium on staffing companies’ ability to source qualified flexible and permanent talent,” ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist said. “Because job seekers have more options today than at any time in the past decade, employers really need to sharpen their focus on employee engagement in order to attract and retain top talent.”