US revenue from temporary staffing continued to increase last month, rising by a median 21% year over year in April — a faster rate than the 14% year-over-year increase in February — among the 132 staffing companies surveyed in the latest Pulse report released May 20 by SIA. Much of the growth came in healthcare segments.
Although healthcare once again outperformed, modest year-over-year revenue gains could be seen across the board this month, aided by a low comparison base from the outset of the pandemic last year.
Travel nurse staffing revenue rose by a median 85% year over year in April.
The fastest growing nonhealthcare segment in April was industrial staffing, where revenue rose a median 26% year over year, followed by legal at 18% and office/clerical at 17%.
While no segments reported negative median year-over-year changes in revenue, life sciences saw US revenue grow by just 5% year over year in April.
This month’s Pulse survey also asked firms, “To what extent are you seeing candidates not show up for interviews or assignments (‘ghosting’)? And to what extent are you seeing candidates leave/quit their assignments early? Is this happening more frequently?” Of the 72 firms that answered, 49 mentioned that candidates were not showing up to interviews or assignments or ending assignments early; 19 stated that this has not been a problem at their firm. Ten responses pointed to continued government unemployment benefits as a reason why getting candidates on assignments has been difficult.
A report that includes selected highlights from the Pulse Survey is available to corporate members of SIA; the full Pulse report itself is available only to companies that took part in the survey. For more information on participating in the next survey, contact SIA Research Analyst Curtis Starkey at cstarkey@staffingindustry.com.