What is American Staffing Association (ASA)?

By Abhishek Kathpal | Updated 08 August, 2022

As an HR professional based in America, you will not be new to the American Staffing Association (ASA); however, if you are yet to get acquainted, you are in the right place. Here, you will learn all you need to know about American Staffing Association (ASA).

What is American Staffing Association (ASA)

American Staffing Association (ASA) meaning and definition

A trade association representing the United States staffing industry and aiming to foster everything about staffing, recruiting, and workplace solutions is the American Staffing Association (ASA). Promoting the industry's interest through education, legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, and establishing High standards of ethical practices is the work of the American Staffing Association. ASA and its state affiliates help with advocating for research advancement all over the industry.

History of American Staffing Association (ASA)

The Institute of Temporary Services was the former name of the American Staffing Association (ASA) in 1966 in Washington, DC. Using research, education, advocacy, and promoting ethical practices in advancing the industry's interests is the association's mission which has not changed till today. The association also helps to boost flexible employment opportunities.

Providing a strong and clear national voice representing the industry and educating policymakers about the staffing business's special attributes is ASA's main motivation. Also, influencing proposals that will negatively impact the staffing agencies' ability to serve the needs of their employees and clients is part of what the association does.

The first mission of the American Staffing Association is to meet the US Department of Labor, intending to discuss the regulations the former US Employment Service ( The Employment and Training Administration is its new name) proposed. Since the main function of the Employment and Training Administration is providing employment-seeking assistance to job finders and employers, it has led to the rise of concerns about the unfair infringement upon private sector staffing agencies. For instance, the private sector staffing agencies do not benefit from USES' tax-exempt status. At the federal level, the American Staffing Association started with advocacy due to that pivotal moment which later spread till the advocacy reached both the state and local levels with the help of network-affiliated chapters. Every year, hundreds of laws and regulations proposed in the country are addressed by them altogether.

The American Staffing Association (ASA) keeps growing in strength such that it has become a respected, highly regarded organization and the major proprietor of American Staffing resources. The association's proprietary includes networking and educational conventions, industry publications including newsletters and magazines, and certified training programs.

An excellent resource for HR teams is the American Staffing Association, as it will help them in recruiting, training, retaining, and engaging top talents using their comprehensive suite of HR tools. The American Staffing Association will help with the transformation of the HR practices of organizations.

How to Join the American Staffing Association (ASA)?

Before a company can join the American Staffing Association, the company must actively place employees on assignment and open for business. The company's operation must be on a for-profit basis as a separate entity providing staffing of job-related services to third parties without charging the employees a fine to place them in employment. Active members of the association can only be from the staffing firm headquarters office. At all ASA membership meetings, every member has one voting right. The association's nonvoting affiliate members comprise the active members' licensed, franchised, and branch offices.

Prominent members of the American Staffing Association (ASA)

Below is the list of the prominent members of ASA staffing agencies:

  1. PageGroup

  2. Crown Services, lnc

  3. Robert Half International

  4. Westaff

  5. Adecco Staffing

  6. ManpowerGroup

  7. Aerotek

  8. Volt Technical Resources

  9. Kelly Services

  10. Randstad Holding

  11. Elwood Staffing

What is the American Staffing Association (ASA) Staffing Index?

Estimating the number of people employed in contract and temporary work every week is possible with the ASA staffing index. Providing current measures of staffing industry job trends is the purpose of creating the ASA staffing index. The "How is business" question is answered with the index. Every week and for a long time, staffing agencies can evaluate their performance against a national metric with the staffing index. Professionals such as researchers, policymakers, economists, and analysts who develop an interest in the current trends in staffing employment will find the ASA staffing index a priceless resource. Over one-third of the industry sales offices are accountable to their participants. Every week, there are reports of two numbers, with the first being the weekly percentage change in staffing employment and the second being the index showing the trend of staffing employment over time. Every Tuesday morning, you will find both numbers on the ASA website.

About the Author

Abhishek Kathpal

Abhi is the co-founder at Longlist.io. Funded by US based OnDeck, Longlist is currently enabling 50+ businesses to increase their candidate and client reach outs, automating the workflow across stages.