From commanding a global market worth nearly half a trillion dollars to navigating the dynamic forces shaping regional hotspots like California's $44.9 billion sector, the U.S. staffing industry has solidified its role as an indispensable economic engine, with its 2022 revenue soaring to $199.5 billion driven by relentless demand in IT, healthcare, and industrial sectors.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. staffing industry revenue reached $199.5 billion in 2022, marking a 2.8% increase from 2021 driven by demand in IT and industrial sectors
- Global staffing market size was valued at $486.3 billion in 2022, projected to grow to $612.9 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 3.9%
- U.S. temporary and contract staffing revenue hit $150.4 billion in 2022, accounting for 75% of total industry revenue
- U.S. staffing employment totaled 17.2 million temps and contracts in 2022 peak
- Global contingent workforce size was 1.57 billion in 2022, 45% of total employment
- U.S. temporary help employment averaged 2.9 million weekly in 2022, up 5.3% YoY
- California accounted for 22.5% of U.S. staffing revenue in 2022 at $44.9 billion
- Texas generated $24.1 billion in staffing revenue in 2022, 12.1% of national total
- Florida staffing market size was $18.7 billion in 2022, up 7.3% YoY
- Industrial sector represented 35% of U.S. staffing revenue at $70.1 billion in 2022
- Office-clerical sector 15% of U.S. staffing at $29.9 billion revenue 2022
- IT/engineering 18% share, $36.0 billion U.S. staffing revenue 2022
- Randstad N.V. ranked #1 U.S. staffing firm with $27.6 billion revenue in 2022
- Allegis Group #2 U.S. with $13.4 billion revenue 2022
- Adecco #3 at $12.8 billion U.S. revenue 2022
The global staffing industry is thriving due to strong growth across IT, healthcare, and industrial sectors.
Company Rankings and Performance
- Randstad N.V. ranked #1 U.S. staffing firm with $27.6 billion revenue in 2022
- Allegis Group #2 U.S. with $13.4 billion revenue 2022
- Adecco #3 at $12.8 billion U.S. revenue 2022
- ManpowerGroup U.S. revenue $11.2 billion in 2022, #4 rank
- Insight Global #5 U.S. fastest-growing with $4.6 billion 2022 revenue
- Top 100 U.S. staffing firms total revenue $80.2 billion 2022, 40% market share
- TEKsystems (Allegis) IT staffing leader $8.9 billion U.S. 2022
- Aerotek (Allegis) industrial #1 $7.2 billion U.S. 2022
- AMN Healthcare #1 healthcare staffing $3.8 billion 2022
- Robert Half #1 office/professional $6.1 billion U.S. 2022
- Kforce IT/finance specialist $1.7 billion revenue 2022
- ASGN Technologies $4.3 billion IT staffing 2022 rank #1 public
- Vaco executive search $1.2 billion 2022 growth 15%
- Global #1 Randstad €90.4 billion total revenue 2022
- Adecco Group global #2 €21.5 billion revenue 2022
- ManpowerGroup global #3 $19.8 billion 2022
- Hays plc #4 global £6.2 billion equivalent 2022
- Kelly Services $4.9 billion global 2022 #5
- Upwork gig platform market cap leader, $2.1 billion revenue 2022
- TrueBlue (PeopleReady/Labor Ready) $2.4 billion industrial 2022
- CHG Healthcare $2.9 billion travel nursing 2022
- Kyyba fastest growing U.S. #1 45% revenue growth to $120 million 2022
- Heidrick & Struggles executive search #1 $1.0 billion 2022
- Korn Ferry RPO leader $2.6 billion total 2022
- Cross Country Healthcare $2.1 billion healthcare growth 28% 2022
- Top 50 U.S. industrial firms $28.4 billion revenue 2022
- Largest IT staffing U.S. Kforce/Volt combo $2.8 billion 2022
Company Rankings and Performance Interpretation
In the fiercely competitive arena of staffing, where giants like Randstad rule the global and U.S. revenue roost and specialists carve out their own lucrative niches, the only constant is that finding the right talent is an $80.2 billion business that refuses to be automated.
Employment and Workforce Trends
- U.S. staffing employment totaled 17.2 million temps and contracts in 2022 peak
- Global contingent workforce size was 1.57 billion in 2022, 45% of total employment
- U.S. temporary help employment averaged 2.9 million weekly in 2022, up 5.3% YoY
- Women comprised 52.4% of U.S. staffing workforce in 2022
- U.S. industrial sector employed 1.2 million temps in 2022, 41% of total temps
- IT staffing placed 450,000 contractors in U.S. in 2022, up 7.9%
- Healthcare temp staffing volume in U.S. reached 650,000 weekly average in 2022
- U.S. staffing industry turnover rate for temps averaged 28.5% in 2022
- Global staffing firms employed 420,000 direct employees in 2022
- U.S. office-clerical temps numbered 550,000 weekly in 2022, down 2.1%
- Engineering and scientific staffing employed 180,000 in U.S. 2022
- U.S. permanent placements via staffing totaled 650,000 in 2022, up 3.4%
- Gig economy workers via staffing platforms reached 12 million in U.S. 2022
- U.S. staffing workforce diversity: 18.2% Hispanic/Latino in 2022
- Average temp hourly wage in U.S. staffing was $21.45 in 2022, up 6.2%
- U.S. staffing fill rate averaged 72% for industrial roles in 2022
- Remote work temps in U.S. staffing grew to 15% of total in 2022
- U.S. veteran employment through staffing reached 120,000 in 2022
- Global temp-to-perm conversion rate was 18.7% in 2022
- U.S. healthcare staffing shortages led to 25% increase in travel nurse assignments in 2022
- U.S. staffing industry weekly temp hours worked totaled 145 million in 2022 average
- Millennials made up 58% of U.S. staffing temps in 2022
- U.S. IT contract extensions averaged 14 months in 2022
- U.S. staffing rehires rate was 32% for skilled trades in 2022
- Global staffing digital matching platforms placed 8.5 million workers in 2022
- U.S. construction staffing temps peaked at 450,000 weekly in 2022
- U.S. staffing industry average assignment length was 12.8 weeks in 2022
- Female representation in U.S. IT staffing was 28% in 2022
- U.S. manufacturing temps via staffing: 850,000 weekly average 2022
- Gen Z entry into U.S. staffing workforce was 22% in 2022
- U.S. hospitality staffing recovered to 320,000 temps weekly in 2022
- Global staffing worker satisfaction score averaged 4.2/5 in 2022 surveys
Employment and Workforce Trends Interpretation
The modern staffing industry, a dynamic but often precarious ecosystem, reveals a world where nearly half the global workforce is contingent, women slightly outnumber men, wages are rising yet turnover remains high, and while digital platforms surge, the most critical roles—from nursing to manufacturing—are increasingly and urgently filled by temporary hands.
Geographic Distribution
- California accounted for 22.5% of U.S. staffing revenue in 2022 at $44.9 billion
- Texas generated $24.1 billion in staffing revenue in 2022, 12.1% of national total
- Florida staffing market size was $18.7 billion in 2022, up 7.3% YoY
- New York staffing revenue reached $16.3 billion in 2022, driven by finance/IT
- Illinois contributed $12.8 billion to U.S. staffing in 2022, 6.4% share
- France held 28% of European staffing market with €57.9 billion in 2022
- Netherlands staffing revenue was €22.1 billion in 2022, 10.6% of Europe
- Germany generated €18.4 billion in staffing 2022, up 2.9%
- UK staffing market €28.5 billion equivalent in 2022, 13.7% Europe share
- Italy staffing revenue €12.7 billion in 2022
- Japan dominated Asia Pacific with $48.2 billion staffing revenue in 2022
- China staffing market $28.9 billion in 2022, growing 12.4%
- India staffing revenue $9.6 billion in 2022, IT-heavy
- Australia staffing $14.2 billion AUD in 2022, 78% of ANZ market
- Brazil led Latin America with $6.8 billion staffing revenue 2022
- Atlanta metro area U.S. staffing revenue $5.2 billion in 2022
- Dallas-Fort Worth staffing $6.1 billion in 2022, top Texas hub
- Los Angeles metro staffing revenue $12.4 billion 2022, largest U.S. MSA
- Chicago metro $8.9 billion staffing in 2022
- Houston staffing market $5.8 billion 2022, energy-driven
- Spain staffing revenue €8.3 billion in 2022, 4% Europe share
- Belgium €6.7 billion staffing 2022
- Sweden €5.4 billion staffing revenue 2022
- South Korea $7.2 billion staffing 2022
- Mexico $3.1 billion staffing revenue 2022
- Phoenix metro U.S. staffing $4.3 billion 2022
- Miami metro $4.7 billion staffing 2022
- Boston metro $5.1 billion staffing revenue 2022, tech/biotech hub
- Seattle metro $4.9 billion staffing 2022
- Denver metro $3.8 billion staffing 2022
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
While California and Japan flex as the undeniable global staffing champions in their respective regions, the true narrative is one of a vast and fiercely competitive international marketplace where growth surges in China, India, and Florida even as established powerhouses like New York and Germany solidify their specialized holds.
Market Size and Revenue
- The U.S. staffing industry revenue reached $199.5 billion in 2022, marking a 2.8% increase from 2021 driven by demand in IT and industrial sectors
- Global staffing market size was valued at $486.3 billion in 2022, projected to grow to $612.9 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 3.9%
- U.S. temporary and contract staffing revenue hit $150.4 billion in 2022, accounting for 75% of total industry revenue
- European staffing market generated €208 billion in 2022, with France leading at €57.9 billion
- Asia Pacific staffing revenue totaled $112.7 billion in 2022, led by Japan at $48.2 billion
- U.S. staffing industry projected revenue for 2023 at $212.3 billion, up 6.4% from 2022
- Temporary staffing segment in U.S. grew 5.1% to $136.8 billion in 2022 amid labor shortages
- Direct hire permanent placement revenue in U.S. reached $12.9 billion in 2022, up 1.2%
- U.S. staffing industry revenue per employee averaged $285,000 in 2022
- Global staffing penetration rate stood at 2.1% of GDP in 2022, highest in Japan at 3.4%
- U.S. industrial staffing revenue was $52.3 billion in 2022, 35% of total temp revenue
- Office-clerical staffing in U.S. generated $21.4 billion in 2022, down 1.8% YoY
- IT staffing revenue in U.S. reached $28.7 billion in 2022, up 8.2%
- Healthcare staffing in U.S. hit $18.9 billion in 2022, growing 12.4% due to shortages
- Engineering staffing revenue in U.S. was $12.1 billion in 2022, up 4.5%
- U.S. staffing industry total revenue forecast for 2024 at $225.7 billion, CAGR 6.1% from 2022-2024
- Latin America staffing market size was $15.2 billion in 2022, Brazil at $6.8 billion
- U.S. retained search and staffing revenue totaled $3.2 billion in 2022
- Global staffing industry employed 28.6 million temporaries in 2022
- U.S. staffing revenue from RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) was $4.1 billion in 2022, up 9.3%
- U.S. staffing industry revenue grew 15.2% in 2021 to $194.3 billion post-COVID recovery
- Canada staffing market revenue was CAD 12.5 billion in 2022, up 4.7%
- Australia/New Zealand staffing revenue hit AUD 18.3 billion in 2022
- U.S. staffing industry average gross margin was 25.8% in 2022
- Global staffing revenue per capita was $62 in 2022, highest in Australia at $210
- UK staffing market revenue was £38.4 billion in 2022, up 3.1%
- U.S. commercial staffing revenue totaled $78.6 billion in 2022, 52% of temp market
- Professional staffing in U.S. generated $58.2 billion in 2022, up 6.8%
- U.S. staffing industry revenue concentration: top 100 firms held 40% market share in 2022
- Global staffing market forecast to reach $550 billion by 2025, CAGR 3.2% from 2022
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
Despite its massive, half-trillion-dollar global girth, the staffing industry’s resilient growth is simply the formalized economy finally admitting, “We have no idea who we’ll need tomorrow, so we’ll rent them for today.”
Sector Breakdown
- Industrial sector represented 35% of U.S. staffing revenue at $70.1 billion in 2022
- Office-clerical sector 15% of U.S. staffing at $29.9 billion revenue 2022
- IT/engineering 18% share, $36.0 billion U.S. staffing revenue 2022
- Healthcare staffing 12% of U.S. market, $23.9 billion in 2022
- Commercial (combined admin/industrial) 52% U.S. staffing revenue $104.0 billion 2022
- Manufacturing subsector within industrial: 28% of temp revenue U.S. 2022
- Transportation/warehousing staffing grew 11.2% to $15.4 billion U.S. 2022
- Finance/accounting staffing $8.7 billion U.S. 2022, 4.4% share
- Scientific staffing $6.2 billion U.S. 2022, up 5.6%
- Construction staffing $11.3 billion U.S. 2022, 5.7% total
- Education/training staffing $4.5 billion U.S. 2022 amid shortages
- Hospitality/foodservice $7.8 billion U.S. staffing 2022 recovery
- Legal staffing revenue $2.9 billion U.S. 2022
- Automotive manufacturing temps $9.1 billion U.S. 2022
- Retail trade staffing $5.6 billion U.S. 2022, seasonal peaks
- Aerospace/defense staffing $3.4 billion U.S. 2022 growth
- Pharmaceutical staffing $2.7 billion U.S. 2022
- Energy/utilities staffing $4.2 billion U.S. 2022, up 8.1%
- Government contracting staffing $6.8 billion U.S. 2022
- Marketing/advertising staffing $3.1 billion U.S. 2022
- Telecommunications staffing $2.4 billion U.S. 2022
- Environmental services staffing $1.9 billion U.S. 2022
- Nonprofit staffing $1.2 billion U.S. 2022
- Agriculture staffing $2.8 billion U.S. 2022 seasonal
- Real estate staffing $1.5 billion U.S. 2022
Sector Breakdown Interpretation
America’s job market is being quietly held together by temporary workers, with industrial muscle and office admin forming the $104 billion backbone, while specialized sectors from surging logistics to stubborn healthcare shortages prove that flexibility is now the permanent engine of the economy.