Forecast: A decade of growth in staffing industry

Data released by the American Staffing Association shows that the U.S. staffing industry is growing faster than the economy because of flexibility: workers want it, businesses need it and it's good for the economy.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment services industry, which is primarily staffing, will grow at an average annual rate of 3.8 percent from 2004 to 2014, adding nearly 1.6 million new jobs.

Last year, U.S. staffing companies employed an average of 2.9 million temporary and contract workers per day, according to the ASA quarterly employment and sales survey. During the next decade, the U.S. staffing industry will grow faster and add more jobs than any other industry, according to the BLS.

Revenue for U.S. temporary and contract staffing services totaled $17.5 billion during the first quarter of 2006, according to the ASA, an increase of 9.3 percent compared to the same period last year and a first quarter record.