As Charles Dickens once said, it was the best of times; it was the worst of times. As far as 2010 goes, it was definitely good for contingent labor usage. Most companies that were opposed to the use of contingents just a few years ago now welcome it. The majority of these companies rely on staffing suppliers to find the right candidates. And when Staffing Industry Analysts, publisher of this newsletter, asked companies how they find their suppliers, 27 percent said it was via lists.

So here we are. Staffing Industry Analysts has completed its supplier lists for 2011. Companies can access around 20 detailed supplier lists ranging from the largest global suppliers to the largest suppliers in the United States. Led by Adecco, ManpowerGroup and Randstad Holding, the suppliers making our global list represent a $150 global staffing market.

The United States list includes 98 companies. Topped by Allegis Group, Adecco and ManpowerGroup, the companies making the U.S. list represent 53 percent of the U.S. staffing market.

Other lists rank suppliers on an industry level, from the more widely used specialties like office/clerical, industrial, IT, engineering, and finance to smaller niches like clinical/scientific and diversity staffing.

And this information is available to you. Staffing Industry Analysts’ CWS Council members can access the lists as part of their membership.