Analysis
NAICS 561320 is the 2022 national industry for temporary help services, part of 56132 (Temporary Help Services). Census lists 16 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 38,254 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 3,645,678 people at an average annual payroll of $48,635 per employee (16th percentile of national industries). 37% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 561330, 115115, 561210 and 561312. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include construction labor supply services, contract staffing services, help supply services and labor (except farm) contractors (i.e., personnel suppliers), among 16 in all.
For example, providing human resources and human resource management services to client businesses and households are classified in 561330 (Professional Employer Organizations) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in supplying workers to clients' businesses for limited periods of time to supplement the working force of the client. The individuals provided are employees of the temporary help services establishment. However, these establishments do not provide direct supervision of their employees at the clients' work sites.
Illustrative Examples:
Help supply services Model supply services Labor (except farm) contractors (i.e., personnel suppliers) Temporary employment or temporary staffing services Manpower pools
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing human resources and human resource management services to client businesses and households | 561330 Professional Employer Organizations |
| Supplying farm labor | 115115 Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
| Providing operating staff to perform a combination of services to support operations within a client's facilities | 561210 Facilities Support Services |
| Providing executive search, recruitment, and placement services | 561312 Executive Search Services |
| Listing employment vacancies and in recruiting, referring, or placing applicants for employment | 561311 Employment Placement Agencies |
| Representing models, entertainers, athletes, and other public figures as their agent or manager | 711410 Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures |
Index entries (16)
- Construction labor supply services
- Contract staffing services
- Help supply services
- Labor (except farm) contractors (i.e., personnel suppliers)
- Labor (except farm) pools
- Manpower pools
- Model supply services
- Office help supply services
- Office supply pools
- Online temporary staffing services, including intermediary platform services
- Outplacement consulting services
- Outplacement services
- Personnel (e.g., industrial, office, health care, legal, construction) suppliers
- Temporary employment services
- Temporary help services
- Temporary staffing services