That's up 11.3% from the year-ago quarter, but down 1.4% from the fourth quarter. However, revenue numbers from the Census Bureau differ from other estimates.

In a basket of 10 of the largest publicly traded staffing firms tracked by Staffing Industry Analysts, first-quarter revenue rose by a median 3.2% from the year-ago quarter. Among all 31 staffing firms tracked by Staffing Industry Analysts, first-quarter revenue fell by a median 0.5% on a year-over-year basis.

Staffing Industry Analysts estimates industrywide staffing revenue will grow by 6% in 2010 from 2009.

The employment services category measured by the Census includes employment placement agencies, executive search firms, temporary employment agencies and professional employer organizations.