Global Staffing Market Grows 4% Annually Through 2028
Employers buying temporary labor should expect uneven regional pricing and capacity as Asia Pacific outpaces Europe and North America.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Employment
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Staffing Industry Analysts forecasts 4% annual global staffing revenue growth for 2026 through 2028, after global staffing revenue totaled $640 billion in 2025. Growth is expected to be uneven, with firms in Asia Pacific and parts of the Middle East and Africa outpacing Europe and North America.
Why it matters
Employers and staffing buyers face a market where demand for flexibility, specialist skills and workforce expertise is rising amid economic uncertainty and technological change. Regional divergence means the cost and availability of contingent labor will not move in lockstep across markets.
Global staffing revenue reached $640 billion in 2025, with temporary staffing accounting for $539 billion and the 16 largest markets producing 87% of the total. The forecast 4% annual growth for 2026-2028 is set against a market where Europe, the Middle East and Africa is the largest region at $271 billion.
The details
Staffing firms earn revenue by connecting employers with talent, so their growth depends on how well they adapt to changing demand. Economic uncertainty, technological change and evolving workforce requirements are pushing employers toward more flexible and specialist labor arrangements. Investment in AI infrastructure such as data centers, advanced manufacturing and energy products is creating new placement opportunities, while AI is also transforming how recruitment itself is carried out.
Timeline
2025: Global staffing revenue totaled $640 billion.
2026-2028: Forecast period for 4% annual global staffing revenue growth.
Market Landscape
Staffing Industry Analysts' revenue series places the 2025 global market at $640 billion, with the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom as the three largest national markets. The projected 4% growth is weighted toward Asia Pacific, a shift from the mature North American and European markets that currently hold much of the revenue base.
Employers that rely on temporary and contract labor should expect the staffing market to keep expanding, with pricing and availability varying by region. Procurement and HR teams may want to review staffing vendor terms against their own regional labor needs; decisions on contract structure should be reviewed with qualified counsel.
The takeaway
The growth gap between Asia Pacific and mature markets suggests that staffing budgets and vendor choices should be set regionally rather than globally. Operators should track the next Staffing Industry Analysts revenue update to see whether the 4% forecast holds across regions.
Further reading
For context on how hiring and labor-market conditions shape these trends, see our Employment coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA).
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