2026 North American Staffing Market Report
Key findings:
US market: $180.2B forecast for 2026 (+1%), $183.0B for 2027 (+2%) - still below the $185.5B pre-pandemic level and the $243.9B 2022 peak (SIA)
Q1 2026 US sales: $27.6B, -1.6% YoY - the narrowest first-quarter decline since 2022 (ASA)
Canada: C$9.3B forecast (+2%), led by IT - the inverse of the US mix, where healthcare (~$38.7B) leads
Confidence: SIA Staffing Confidence Index reached a post-pandemic high in June 2026
The reset, quantified
After three consecutive down years ($113.5B full-year 2025 temp and contract sales, -8.5%, per ASA), 2026 is the stabilization year: modest growth forecasts, narrowing employment declines (-4.6% YoY in Q1 versus -10.8% a year earlier), and weekly indicators trending positive (SIA pulse data showed staffing up 4% YoY in mid-May, commercial +6%, professional +3%).
Segment growth forecasts, 2026
| Segment | 2026 forecast growth |
|---|---|
| Life sciences | ~5% |
| Engineering | ~3% |
| Finance & accounting | ~2% |
| IT / Marketing & creative | ~1% |
| Industrial | Low single digits, concentrating in construction and skilled trades |
The US-Canada inversion
Canada's largest temporary staffing segment is IT, with industrial at 25% (~C$2.22B), engineering at 15% (~C$1.33B), and healthcare just 3% (~C$266M) - while healthcare is the largest US segment. Canadian place-and-search revenue is forecast to rebound 14% in 2026 after two down years. Cross-border operators need two playbooks.
Explore the live market dataMethodology & sources
Compiled and analyzed by StaffingPulse Editorial from named public sources: Staffing Industry Analysts (March 2026 US forecast, May 2026 Canadian survey, weekly pulse data, Confidence Index), the American Staffing Association (quarterly surveys, annual estimates, Staffing Index), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics series. All figures carry their source inline. Analysis and framing are original StaffingPulse editorial work.