Behind every order that ships on time, production line that stays moving, project that meets its deadline, and office that keeps running is a person who showed up ready to work.
From September 14–20, American Workforce Group is proud to join staffing companies across the country in celebrating National Staffing Employee Week 2026.
This annual celebration recognizes the temporary and contract employees whose talent, adaptability, and commitment strengthen businesses and communities every day. Here in Southwest Washington, these employees support manufacturers, warehouses, construction projects, offices, distribution centers, and other essential workplaces throughout Cowlitz, Clark, Pierce, and Thurston Counties.
The word “temporary” may describe the length of an assignment. It does not describe the importance of the work—or the person doing it.
Temporary Employees Are an Essential Part of the Workforce
According to the American Staffing Association, approximately 9.5 million temporary and contract employees worked through staffing companies during 2025.
The industry has also recorded 10 consecutive months of year-over-year staffing employment growth heading into National Staffing Employee Week. That growth reflects something employers already understand: businesses need dependable people who can step in, adapt quickly, and help keep operations moving.
Temporary and contract employees provide that flexibility, but their contribution goes far beyond filling an open shift.
They bring experience, learn new systems, solve problems, meet production goals, support permanent employees, and frequently become long-term members of the companies they serve.
Temporary Work Can Build a Permanent Career
A staffing assignment can provide much more than a paycheck. It can be an opportunity to gain experience, develop new skills, explore an unfamiliar industry, and demonstrate your value directly to an employer.
American Staffing Association research shows:
- 73% of staffing employees work full-time, which is comparable to the overall workforce.
- 64% use staffing employment to bridge the gap between jobs or help them land their next position.
- 20% choose temporary or contract work because of the scheduling flexibility it offers.
- Nearly nine out of 10 staffing employees say temporary or contract work makes them more employable.
Temporary employees are also keeping pace with a rapidly changing workplace. An ASA and LinkedIn analysis found that temporary and contract employees added AI-literacy skills at a 46% higher rate than U.S. LinkedIn members overall in 2025.
That willingness to learn and adapt is valuable in every workplace—from a modern production floor or distribution center to a construction site or administrative office.
An Opportunity to Prove What a Résumé Cannot Show
A résumé can list experience and qualifications, but it cannot fully demonstrate someone’s work ethic.
An assignment gives employees the opportunity to show employers that they:
- Arrive on time and ready to work.
- Follow safety procedures and workplace expectations.
- Communicate clearly with supervisors and coworkers.
- Learn new responsibilities quickly.
- Take accountability for the quality of their work.
- Support the people around them.
- Remain dependable when the work becomes challenging.
Those qualities make an impression.
At American Workforce Group, more than 90% of our temp-to-hire candidates are converted to full-time employment. That success happens because motivated employees are given an opportunity to demonstrate what they can contribute—and employers have time to see those contributions firsthand.
A Reminder for Employers
National Staffing Employee Week is also an opportunity for businesses to consider how temporary and contract employees are welcomed and supported.
A positive assignment experience begins with the same fundamentals that help every employee succeed:
- Clear instructions and expectations.
- Proper safety training and equipment.
- Respectful communication.
- Constructive feedback.
- Recognition for good work.
- Inclusion as part of the team.
Employees who understand what is expected of them and know their work is valued are better positioned to succeed. A simple thank-you, acknowledgment from a supervisor, or conversation about future opportunities can make a meaningful difference.
To Every AWG Employee: Thank You
This week—and every week—we are grateful for the people who represent American Workforce Group in workplaces across Southwest Washington.
Thank you for the early mornings, long shifts, new skills learned, production goals met, difficult assignments completed, and countless ways you support our clients and communities.
Your work matters.
Whether an assignment lasts several days, several months, or leads to a permanent career, every successful placement begins with someone willing to take the opportunity and give it their best.
That is worth celebrating.
Ready for Your Next Opportunity?
American Workforce Group connects motivated people with employers throughout Cowlitz, Clark, Pierce, and Thurston Counties. We offer temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire opportunities in light industrial, skilled trades, manufacturing, administrative, and other fields.
Looking for work? Search our current job openings and connect with a local AWG recruiter.
Looking for dependable people? Request talent from American Workforce Group and let our team help you move your business forward.