While job growth across the US economy declined in September, staffing employment held relatively firm, finds analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from the American Staffing Association (ASA).

Nationally, the number of jobs added to the economy in the month was 114,000, down a fifth from August’s 142,000 total. According to non-seasonally adjusted BLS data, there were an extra 47,100 staffing jobs in the economy from August to September, up 1.8% on the month – although seasonally-adjusted data suggests a slight decline of 0.1%.

The US employment rate dropped to 7.8% in September, having sat between 8.1% and 8.3% for the first eight months of the year.

ASA president and chief executive Richard Wahlquist says: “Although the pace of growth has slowed somewhat since the beginning of the year, staffing firms report that demand continues to be good across most sectors.

“Heading into the fourth quarter, businesses remain cautious about adding new permanent staff because of the cloud of uncertainty about the economy and the lack of direction coming out of Washington.”

In 2012, job gains have averaged 146,000 per month, compared with 153,000 per month in 2011, with growth last month led by new jobs in the healthcare (44,000), transportation & warehousing (13,000) and financial activities (13,000). Employment declines were noted in the manufacturing sector (-16,000), with most of the losses concentrated in computer and electronic products (-6,000).