Temporary assignments lengthening, more firms hiring permanent employees
All signs continue to point toward the slow and steady recovery of the staffing industry and the Canadian economy, according to the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services (ACSESS).
The organization’s Canadian Staffing Index for June 2011 revealed an index score of 90 measuring the hours of labour performed by temporary and contract staff compared to the benchmark index of 100 established in July 2008.
“Temporary assignments are lengthening, more employers are hiring permanent employees with the assistance of staffing companies and there is a return to the traditional and predictable seasonal fluctuations in temporary hours," said ACSESS president, Bryan Toffey. "These are all signs of stability and cautious optimism in the Canadian employment market."
The index’s gradual year-on-year growth reflects the contraction that occurred during the recession, said Robert Balicki, research associate at Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), which compiled the index.
“Current year-on-year growth rates in the mid-to-high single digits are consistent with an on-going recovery in the Canadian staffing industry and overall economy," he said.
The moderate pace of economic recovery demonstrated by the index is likely due in part to persistent uncertainty in United States and global financial storylines, said Toffey.
