U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.86 million temporary and contract workers per day during the first quarter of 2013, a 2.9 percent increase compared to the year-ago period, according to the American Staffing Association.

However, the number of staffing jobs fell by 148,000, down 4.9 percent, from the fourth quarter — a typical seasonal pattern.

“Temporary and contract employment is a good indicator of where the economy is today,” said ASA President and CEO Richard Wahlquist. “Most staffing firms expect to see slow but steady growth in the months ahead.”