The key takeaway: Employers are hiring, but they are doing so strategically. Many businesses appear to be using temporary and flexible staffing to increase capacity while preserving the ability to adjust as economic conditions change.
What the Latest Staffing Data Shows
The SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator measures weekly hours worked by temporary employees at hundreds of U.S. staffing firms that use Bullhorn technology. The data represents more than 200,000 workers across multiple occupations, industries and geographic regions.
For the week ending July 18, 2026, the report highlighted several important staffing trends:
- Total U.S. staffing hours increased 9% compared with the same week in 2025.
- Industrial staffing hours increased 16% year over year.
- IT staffing hours increased 6% year over year.
- Office and clerical staffing hours decreased 5% year over year.
- Commercial and professional staffing both showed positive sequential growth during the first half of 2026.
The researchers also noted that industrial staffing began accelerating in late April and May before reaching even stronger levels during June and July.
The indicator does not represent every staffing firm or employer in the country, and its four most recent weeks remain subject to revision. However, it provides a useful near-real-time look at how employers are using temporary labor before those trends become fully visible in traditional monthly employment reports.
Employers can review the full SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator dashboard for updated staffing trends and methodology.
Why Industrial Staffing Growth Matters in Southwest Washington
Industrial staffing growth is especially relevant for businesses operating throughout Cowlitz, Clark, Thurston and Pierce Counties.
Manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers and skilled-trade employers rarely experience perfectly predictable workforce demand. Production schedules can change quickly because of new contracts, seasonal volume, employee absences, turnover, equipment projects or unexpected customer orders.
When demand increases, relying only on permanent hiring may not provide workers quickly enough. At the same time, committing to permanent headcount before long-term demand is clear can create additional financial risk.
That is where flexible staffing solutions can provide an advantage.
Employers Can Add Capacity Without Overcommitting
Temporary staffing allows an employer to increase production capacity for a defined period, project or seasonal need. The workforce can then be adjusted as workloads change.
This can be particularly valuable when a company has secured new business but is not yet certain whether the increased volume will continue indefinitely.
Temp-to-Hire Can Reduce Hiring Risk
A résumé and interview cannot always show how someone will perform in a real working environment.
A temp-to-hire arrangement gives an employer an opportunity to evaluate an employee’s attendance, safety habits, productivity, reliability and compatibility with the existing team before making a permanent hiring decision.
Faster Hiring Can Protect Productivity
An unfilled position affects more than a staffing chart. Open roles can increase overtime, delay orders, place pressure on experienced employees and reduce overall productivity.
As temporary staffing demand increases, employers may also face more competition for dependable workers. Companies that begin workforce planning early will generally have more options than those that wait until a shortage becomes urgent.
Washington’s Labor Market Remains Uneven
The national staffing report provides encouraging signs, but Washington’s labor market continues to show a mixture of growth and uncertainty.
According to the Washington State Employment Security Department , the state’s economy added an estimated 5,400 jobs in June 2026. Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 5.2% for the third consecutive month.
At the same time, employment services lost approximately 2,500 jobs during the month. These mixed results reinforce an important reality: national growth does not affect every occupation, industry or local market at the same speed.
For Southwest Washington employers, this means workforce planning should be based on actual business conditions rather than headlines alone.
What Employers Should Do Now
The recent increase in temporary staffing demand does not mean every company should immediately add employees. It does mean employers should evaluate whether their current workforce can handle upcoming demand.
- Review upcoming production and project schedules. Identify seasonal peaks, major orders, employee leaves and deadlines that could create staffing gaps.
- Determine which roles are essential to maintaining productivity. Focus first on positions where an absence or vacancy could delay an entire team or production process.
- Consider multiple hiring models. Temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire recruitment each solve different workforce challenges.
- Begin building a candidate pipeline before the need becomes urgent. Waiting until production is already affected can limit the available talent pool and increase pressure on your existing team.
How American Workforce Group Can Help
Since 2013, American Workforce Group has helped employers throughout Southwest Washington find dependable people for light industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, skilled-trade and administrative positions.
Our staffing options include:
- Temporary staffing for seasonal needs, projects, absences and changing production demands.
- Temp-to-hire staffing that allows employers to evaluate performance before making a permanent commitment.
- Direct hire recruiting for specialized, technical, supervisory and hard-to-fill positions.
Learn more about AWG’s light industrial and skilled-trade staffing services , or explore all of our temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire staffing solutions .
Whether your company needs one employee or an entire team, early workforce planning can help you respond to demand without sacrificing productivity, quality or safety.
Is your workforce prepared for the next increase in demand? Contact American Workforce Group to discuss your upcoming hiring needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Staffing Demand
Is temporary staffing demand increasing in 2026?
The SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator reported that total U.S. staffing hours were 9% higher year over year for the week ending July 18, 2026. This was the indicator’s strongest year-over-year growth rate since August 2022.
Which staffing sector is growing the fastest?
Industrial staffing was the strongest occupational segment in the July 28 report, with hours increasing 16% compared with the previous year. Demand associated with manufacturing, logistics and other industrial operations appears to be contributing to that growth.
When should an employer contact a staffing agency?
Employers should begin the conversation before a staffing shortage affects production or customer service. A staffing agency can help plan for seasonal demand, employee absences, new projects, turnover and difficult-to-fill positions.
Sources: Staffing Industry Analysts, SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator, July 28, 2026 ; Bullhorn Staffing Industry Indicator ; and Washington State Employment Security Department, June 2026 Employment Report .