Dive Brief:

• 2017 is projected to be a very different and challenging year for professional staffing firms, JBCConnect CEO Bryan Zaslow writes for Tech.co. Zaslow lists four trends to watch in the staffing industry.
• The trends are as follows: There will be a measurable downtick in retail and luxury staffing; milder winter weather has slowed down sales in the winter readiness market; many large companies have slowed hiring dramatically; and most agencies have gone from Net30 terms to 90 days collecting staffing fees. 
• Zaslow says that despite these trends, JBCConnect's business is up 31% over last year's figures. He advises agencies to focus on professional development to invest in the future success of staffing agencies. 

Dive Insight:

The drop in luxury and retail sales by consumers was not surprising, given the uncertainty of the election period. Claims about the weather are questionable for regions like the Northeast and Midwest, which have both been hit with multiple storms in the past year.

However, one thing is clear: Companies are spending their money with caution. Staffing budgets are tight all around, with ACA requirements, new overtime rules, state minimum wage increases, and more weighing down finances. It may be too early to predict if these 4 trends will happen, but recruiters should be mindful of these factors when working with clients.