The TerraFirma team just returned from the American Staffing Association’s Staffing World 2025 in Orlando. Even though attendance was slightly off from last year, the networking and discussions were just as thought-provoking as ever. Although Staffing World is tailored specifically for the staffing industry, the conversations were much bigger than that. They centered around the future of work itself.
I knew this year’s event was going to be monumental when I attended a presentation given by ASA’s chief economist, Noah Yosif. He made a statement that stopped the room cold when he said, “Folks, we do NOT have an economic recession right now, but we ARE in the midst of a labor recession.” Everyone in attendance just looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement.
Noah put into words what so many business leaders are feeling right now: the economy continues to put up growth numbers, but the workforce (the REAL engine of growth) is simply not keeping pace. Every dialogue, every meeting, every casual conversation all seemed to tie in with this theme.
One interesting workshop explored how AI is changing and not replacing the human workforce. Technology is no longer just something we use ‘in addition to,’ but it’s quickly becoming something we use ‘along with.’ The organizations successfully deploying technology are finding ways to let it handle the repetitive tasks so that their teams can focus on what’s really important - creativity and connection. Both of these are the very things that automation can’t replicate.
Another session titled “Leading in Volatile Times” threw a spotlight on the evolution of leading people. The message was that old-school management techniques won’t cut it anymore and that the leaders who stand out will be the ones who build trust through transparency and empathy and who see change as something to lean into rather than to defend against.
If you’ve been following my weekly messages, you know that I am a strong proponent of the importance of emotional intelligence as a tool that leads to predictable growth. I was NOT going to miss the presentation titled “Our People Are Our Product” and it did not disappoint. Everyone in the room was reminded that culture isn’t something that just naturally occurs. It’s a combination of daily interactions, shared decisions, and norms that are communicated and lived day in and day out.
It was clear to me that everyone in attendance believes we are entering a new era of work, where technology is accelerating faster than culture and leadership is tasked with the responsibility of balancing them effectively. My takeaway from Staffing World is that what we’re experiencing is much more than just a staffing story. It’s about how every company in every industry needs to rethink how they attract, develop, and retain talent when human potential seems to be the scarcest business resource of all.