Temp Help Services Employment

## What this measures

This series counts the number of employees on payroll at temporary help services firms in the United States, measured in thousands of persons. The data are seasonally adjusted and collected through the Current Employment Statistics establishment survey.

## Why it matters

Temporary help employment moves early in the labor cycle because firms add and shed temp workers before they commit to permanent hires or layoffs. A sustained change in this series can signal a coming turn in broader labor demand and economic activity, giving organizations time to adjust hiring, capacity or investment plans.

## How to read it

A rising count suggests strengthening labor demand and near-term economic expansion; a falling count suggests weakening demand and possible contraction ahead. Compare the recent level to the prior twelve months to identify directional shifts that precede changes in permanent employment and output.

## What it does not say

This series does not measure total contingent or gig work, only employees at firms classified as temporary help services. It does not indicate the reasons for changes in temp staffing or the industries where temps are placed.

## Source

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes this series as part of the Current Employment Statistics establishment survey (series TEMPHELPS). Palanor retrieves it nightly from the FRED API at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.