U.S. staffing firms employed an average of 2.95 million temporary and contract workers per business day during the third quarter of 2012, up 4.3 percent from third quarter 2011, according to data released today from the American Staffing Association’s third quarter Staffing Employment and Sales Survey.

“Even though the rate of growth slowed during the fall, third quarter staffing employment was the highest it has been in five years,” said ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist. “The economy continues to struggle to regain its pre-recession footing and until businesses have more confidence and see sustained increases in demand, new permanent hiring will likely remain tepid as we enter 2013.”