Temporary staffing revenue fell a median 8% year over year in August among staffing firms taking part in the latest Pulse survey by Staffing Industry Analysts. That’s a greater decline than the 4% median decrease in the previous Pulse survey based on June data. However, outside of healthcare segments, all other staffing segments were flat or up sequentially compared to the June survey.

Per diem nursing saw the biggest year-over-year decline in median revenue, down 26%, followed by travel nursing, down 23%.

On the flip side, locum tenens staffing posted the largest increase, up 7% year over year. The engineering and industrial skill segments also saw increases, up 5% and 4%, respectively.

Meanwhile, revenue was flat at the median with no growth in four staffing segments — IT, finance/accounting, legal and marketing/creative — as well as direct hire.

This month’s Pulse survey also asked firms about the biggest challenges their staffing firms are currently facing. Difficulties finding new business/job orders topped the list, cited by 90% of firms, while 19% mentioned difficulty finding/retaining talent and 15% referred to bill rates being down/not keeping up with cost increases.

For the biggest challenges question, 122 firms responded; the full survey included 185 staffing companies. The survey was conducted in August.

SIA corporate members can download the US Staffing Industry Pulse Survey Report: September 2024 Selected Highlights. However, the full Pulse report is available only to companies that participated in the survey. For more information on participating in the next survey, contact Curtis Starkey at [email protected].