US temporary staffing hours were down 2% year over year but up 11.1% sequentially in the week ended Jan. 18, according to the SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator - January 28, 2025, report.

The sequential increase shows how business demand for staffing services typically rebounds in January following the holiday season.

Additionally, the timing of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday affects the year-over-year weekly comparisons. The 2024 holiday was on Jan. 15 — the second full week of the month — while the 2025 holiday fell on Jan. 20 and the third full week. Therefore, the year-over-year changes compare a full week in 2025 (this year’s week ending Jan. 18) with a holiday week (last year’s week ending Jan. 20).

SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator