The percentage of staffing firms that cite the creation of a “positive company culture” as a management priority has trended up over the past few years, according to a new report based on the 2012 Staffing Company Survey by Staffing Industry Analysts. That may mean more profitability.

“On average over the past three years, ‘creating a positive company culture’ has been the third-most correlated with profitability among all the priorities that we track,” said Theo Vadpey, author of the report.

The survey found that 14 percent of staffing firms in 2012 said “creating a positive company culture” is a top management priority. That compared with 12 percent in 2011 and only 6 percent in 2010.

During the height of the recession in 2009, the percentage dropped to 8 percent. And in 2008, it was 9 percent.

The report tracked 16 priorities in all.

And despite the uptick in culture, staffing firms remain focused on growth. The top three priorities, overall, for staffing firms in 2012 were “growing revenue,” 53 percent; “expanding/diversifying clients,” 40 percent; and “growing market share,” 35 percent.

The survey included responses from 622 individual staffing firms and took place in September. Corporate members of Staffing Industry Analysts can download the full survey by clicking here.