In this week’s StaffingHub Brief, we’re covering:
- Staffing hours rose 7% year over year through early September, industrial is the sector driving it, and employers are projecting revenue growth without adding headcount.
- Industry moves this week include VeriWorks acquiring skilled-trades platform LaborWorx, Harver absorbing Symphony Talent, and ALKU launching a dedicated AI solutions division.
- Fewer than half of employers believe schools are preparing workers for AI-reshaped jobs, and ASA shares projections for long-term staffing demand.
Staffing hours are up 7%, and opportunities open for contingent labor
The SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator for the week ended September 5 shows US staffing hours up 7% year over year, with the overall index at 103. Industrial led the way with a 12% YoY gain, driven by manufacturing clients and data center investment. Professional rose 6%, IT gained 3%, and office/clerical dropped 7% YoY. (Learn more)
Globally, agency job postings climbed 5% year over year in Q3, but North America only added 2%. Europe grew 9%, and hours worked by US agency workers rose 5.1% in Q2. SIA flags that posting volume doesn’t fix skill mismatch, and communication skills are the hardest to source in every region. More postings from clients who still can’t fill roles is a positioning opportunity. (Learn more)
More than six in 10 employers expect revenue growth by 2027, but only 50% plan to add headcount. And that’s where contingent labor comes in. Companies are planning to do more with the same people, and your staffing solutions can fill the space between needing to deliver results and facing a hiring freeze. (Learn more)
Three firms bet on owning more of the stack
VeriWorks acquired LaborWorx on September 10, picking up the 15-year-old skilled trades platform and its proprietary workforce recommendation technology. LaborWorx brings a Fortune 500 industrial and manufacturing client base, including energy providers and food/beverage manufacturers, plus a direct lane into data center construction through skilled electrical and trades placements. LaborWorx will continue operating as a standalone brand within the VeriWorks family. (Learn more)
Harver acquired Symphony Talent, combining predictive talent assessment and reference checking (applied to 65M+ candidates across Harver’s history) with 50-plus years of recruitment marketing and employer branding. The combined firm now serves 1,500+ clients globally, with coverage from workforce planning and employer brand through assessment, fraud detection, and skills matching. The pitch is one connected solution instead of five point tools. (Learn more)
ALKU launched ALKU Intelligence on September 14, a dedicated AI, data engineering, and advanced analytics division built on its acquisition of rockITdata. The model is managed delivery, including dedicated teams with proprietary accelerators, targeting enterprise-grade AI deployments in under 90 days. It’s one of the clearest signs yet from a specialized firm that the revenue it expects from AI will come from solutions delivery rather than just talent supply. (Learn more)
What employers want is changing, and the long-term outlook shows where
Fewer than half of employers believe current education is preparing workers for AI-reshaped jobs. Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer described this as a move from measuring workforce readiness by what people know to what people can do. Critical thinking, communication, and adaptability are rising, while credentials are losing ground. If your screening criteria still leads with education and title, you may need to rethink it. (Learn more)
The ASA’s long-range projections through 2034 tell you where to build desks. Engineering, IT, and scientific staffing is projected to grow 8.5%. Healthcare staffing matches that at 8.5%. Professional and managerial comes in at 3.1%. Office and clerical staffing is projected to decline 3.9%. Industrial staffing growth is pegged at 3.1%, trailing broader sector growth. The firms that will be in the best position in eight years are already shifting capacity toward where demand is heading. (Learn more)
