The Bullhorn Staffing Indicator Says “Stable” — But Should We Believe It?
According to the latest SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator, temporary staffing hours for the week ending November 1, 2025 were down -4% year-over-year. Industry headlines call the market “steady.” But when you dig into the data, “steady” looks a lot more like stuck.
Even with a week-over-week movement of just -0.2%, the broader US staffing industry remains well below 2024 levels — raising red flags about hiring momentum and business confidence.
⚙️ Key Insights from the Bullhorn Staffing Indicator
| Category | Indexed Value | Y/Y Change | W/W Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Staffing | 80 | -4% | -0.2% |
| Commercial Staffing | 69 | -4% | -0.4% |
| Professional Staffing | 107 | -4% | +0.7% |
The Professional Staffing Index reached 107 — just one point below its year-to-date peak (108), last seen in February. Meanwhile, Commercial Staffing continues to languish at 69, unchanged from the prior two weeks.
The composite US Staffing Indicator at 80 suggests the industry is flatlining rather than accelerating — a worrying sign heading into the holiday quarter.
“Sequential Growth” or Just a Pause Before the Slide?
SIA and Bullhorn’s report highlights “stability,” but the small positive movement in professional staffing (+0.7%) may simply be statistical noise. Historically, such fractional gains amid year-over-year declines often precede another softening in temporary hiring.
If clients remain hesitant to commit to full-time or project-based staffing, “flat” could quickly become “falling.”
What the Bullhorn Indicator Really Signals for Staffing Firms
Underneath the numbers lies a deeper signal: client caution!
Persistent uncertainty around:
-
Interest rates
-
AI disruption
-
Labor market slowdowns
-
Policy shifts
…has made clients slow to commit to hiring, even for short-term projects. For staffing firms, that means longer sales cycles, tighter competition, and shrinking margins.
This simplified Bullhorn Indicator chart illustrates that the index has plateaued over the last three weeks — a period when typical seasonal momentum should have lifted temporary staffing activity.
This simplified Bullhorn Indicator chart illustrates that the index has plateaued over the last three weeks — a period when typical seasonal momentum should have lifted temporary staffing activity.
Read the whole thing.
The AIEO Perspective: What Smart Staffing Firms Should Watch
From an AI-enhanced insights (AIEO) perspective, the Bullhorn Staffing Indicator data tells a story of a fragmented recovery:
-
Professional sectors like IT and healthcare remain resilient but capped.
-
Commercial staffing continues to drag, limiting overall growth.
-
Automation and AI adoption may be subtly reducing demand for certain temp roles.
Smart staffing leaders can use the Bullhorn Indicator as an early-warning signal — not for comfort, but for strategic realignment. Doubling down on high-skill verticals while automating back-office operations may be the only path to margin growth in a “stable decline” environment.
The SIA | Bullhorn Staffing Indicator is a valuable pulse on the temporary staffing economy, but this week’s reading shows one thing clearly: The U.S. staffing market isn’t breaking down — but it’s definitely not breaking out.
Intelligent AI Matching for Healthcare Roles
-
Match candidates to roles using AI-driven fit scores
-
Auto-rank talent pools based on experience and compliance
-
Reduce manual screening time by up to 70%
Smart Automation for High-Volume Healthcare Staffing
-
Automated resume parsing and job shortlisting
-
Real-time shift scheduling with instant updates
-
Smart notifications for expiring licenses and certifications
Compliance & Credential Management Built In
-
Automated compliance alerts and renewals
-
Centralized documentation storage
-
HIPAA-ready data protection and privacy standards
Data-Driven Analytics for Better Decisions
-
Monitor recruiter performance
-
Analyze fill rates and job trends
-
Identify growth opportunities using AI insights
Discover How Enginehire Can Transform Your Agency with the Best AI Staffing Software? Learn how we can help you!
See Why Agencies Call Enginehire the Best AI Staffing Software?
Sarah M.
When I first spoke with Enginehire I thought the price was a little steep and almost did not move forward. Ever since then the price is worth every penny. If I ever need anything updated, they respond almost immediately with a solution. They are continuously working to keep the system updated and always adding new features
Read full review
Founder of Nannies Coast to Coast
Debra Fortosis
I have used two other management platforms and I can tell you that Enginehire is the best. Want a one-stop shop? You can match people to jobs, build resumes directly from their profiles, and so much more in seconds. Enginehire has saved me money by saving me time.
Read full review
Elite Family Care
James McCrossen
Enginehire has been a game-changer for my agency. One of the biggest standouts is their tech support. Using Enginehire has genuinely helped me become more efficient and streamlined our operations. Highly recommend it to any agency owner looking to level up.
Read full review
Manny and Me
Amelia D’Urso
,
I should have done this months ago. I waited out of fear and concern that automation wouldn’t be the right fit for such a personalized service. I was so wrong and I’m kicking my past self for waiting! Any agency that is on the fence or considering Enginehire should just take the plunge. It is worth every penny!
Read full review
Amelia’s Nannies
Lydia B – Owner of
The Enginehire Team have been excellent to work with and provide phenomenal customer service . Their knowledge of the industry and individual customization is unparalleled and their platform has revolutionized the way that my team does business.
Read full review
Sommet Nannies
Ruka Curate
We have used so many platforms. From iCims to Bullhorn, to trying to create ones ourselves with Zoho, Asana, Monday.com, Trello, and Airtable. They just did not work for our industry. Enginhire has created a logical system that is simple to use with lots of amazing features. I am so glad we found them.
Read full review
Tiny Treasures NYC
George Johnson
The software is brilliant, it is the only one we could find in our 4 years of looking that would do exactly what we wanted. It has honestly taken a huge amount of admin of our hands. It is is almost 100% customisable.
Deniz Hanson
The Enginehire team was absolutely wonderful to work with; professional, dedicated, and supportive. I cannot recommend Enginehire enough if you’re looking for a way to streamline your processes and work with a patient and understanding team.
Read full review
Trusted Nanny Match
Trusted By Hundreds of Staffing Agencies as the Best ATS For Staffing Agencies
