US Staffing Hours Reach 2026 High Amid Low Employee Engagement

US staffing hours rose 11% year over year for the week of October 24, reaching a new high for 2026. This growth was led by the industrial sector, which saw a 17% increase driven by manufacturing, logistics, and data center construction. Professional hours increased by 8%, while IT rose by 5%. Conversely, office and clerical roles declined by 7%.

Despite the rise in hours, employee engagement fell to 29% in Q3 2026, marking its lowest level since 2011. Economic outlooks remain cautious, as a study of 600 US HR and business leaders found that 69% expect layoffs or reductions in force within the next 12 months, including 80% of CEOs. This is a significant increase from 2024, when only 36% of HR leaders anticipated such cuts.

In the labor market, ADP reported that while 86,000 private-sector jobs were added in October, professional and business services lost 27,000 positions. The US office staffing and temp agencies industry is valued at $237.1 billion in 2026, with administrative and office roles accounting for 24% of all staffing placements nationally.