An average of 2.1 million temporary and contract workers were employed per day in the U.S. during the third quarter, according to the American Staffing Association's quarterly staffing employment survey released today. The number is up 6.7% from the second quarter.

Staffing employment remained down 23.9% compared with the third quarter of 2008. However, this was the first time in more than a year the decline was smaller than in the previous quarter, according to the ASA.