America's staffing companies employed an average 2.76 million temporary and contract workers per day in the first quarter of 2008, according to the American Staffing Association’s quarterly employment and sales survey.

More than 11.4 million temporary and contract workers go to work through staffing firms over the course of a year, according to the ASA.  And 30% are ultimately hired by the client. 

Key drivers behind increased use of contingent workers are lower risk with temp-to-perm, variable workloads, business growth and difficulty finding quality people. The talent shortage is very much a reality, reflected in near record-low unemployment rates.

• More than 20% of staffing employees used by American companies fill professional-managerial roles.

• 80% of staffing clients say staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become permanent employees.

• 23% of staffing employees have little or no interest in a permanent job—they prefer the alternative arrangement over traditional employment.

• 88% of staffing employees say that temporary or contract work made them more employable

• 72% of clients believe that the quality of the temporary employees they get from staffing companies is the same as or better than the quality of their regular employees.

• 90% of client businesses say that staffing companies give them the flexibility to keep fully staffed during the busy times.

• 70% of firms reported using the same personnel for their direct hire and temporary or contract placements.

• 73% of companies reporting that candidates for IT jobs in high level web and interactive solutions are the most difficult to find

• 46% of employers are  expected to increase their IT staff by 2016

• 90% temporary and contract employees were satisfied with their staffing firm experience

• 29% of staffing employees say they work for a staffing company because they like the diversity and challenge of different jobs

• 65% of executives said their companies plan to hire recent graduates this year