Manufacturing Staffing Demand Running Three Times Above Pre-Pandemic Levels, HireQuest Data Shows

HireQuest (NASDAQ: HQI) reports that its U.S. manufacturing staffing revenue is tracking at roughly three times pre-pandemic levels in Q1 and Q2 2026, indicating sustained demand for manufacturing labor.

Rhea-AI Summary

HireQuest (NASDAQ: HQI) reports that its U.S. manufacturing staffing revenue is tracking at roughly three times pre-pandemic levels in Q1 and Q2 2026, indicating sustained demand for manufacturing labor. The company’s manufacturing staffing footprint expanded from 32 states in 2020 to 35 states by early 2026.

According to HireQuest, manufacturers across food production, metal fabrication, solar assembly and packaging are increasingly using temporary and temp-to-perm staffing, including skilled roles such as machinists, maintenance and automation technicians, and process engineers. Many temporary assignments are converting to permanent jobs, suggesting evolving hiring models and stable opportunities in middle-class manufacturing careers.

Positive

• Manufacturing staffing revenue ~3x pre-pandemic, based on Q1 and Q2 2026 tracking
• Manufacturing staffing footprint expanded from 32 states in 2020 to 35 states in early 2026
• Broad demand across roles from entry-level production to machinists, technicians and engineers, with temp-to-perm conversions

Negative

• None.

Argus Aug 18 session 2 alerts

+3.44% close to close 0.3x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

Market move: HQI +3.44% in the Aug 18 session. manufacturing staffing data

$235.88M Market Cap

On Aug 18, the day this news came out, HQI closed 3.44% above the previous close. Our momentum scanner recorded 2 alerts for this stock that day.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Aug 18 session.

Key Figures

Manufacturing staffing revenue: three times Manufacturing footprint: 32 states to 35 states Factory job cuts: June 2026 +2 more

Manufacturing staffing revenue

three times

Q1 and Q2 reporting versus pre-pandemic level

Manufacturing footprint

32 states to 35 states

2020 to first quarter of 2026

Factory job cuts

June 2026

Near highest levels since 2009

ISM Manufacturing Index

six straight months

Sector expansion

Fastest sector growth

since 2021

ISM Manufacturing Index

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Aug 13

5 events

1. Aug 13

   Quarterly dividend

   24h Move

   -5.2%

   Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share

2. Aug 10

   Q2 earnings report

   24h Move

   +25.3%

   Profitability increased sharply alongside higher quarterly revenue

3. Jul 27

   Earnings call notice

   24h Move

   +6.9%

   Company scheduled its Q2 2026 results conference call

4. May 27

   Acquisition proposal rejected

   24h Move

   +1.3%

   TrueBlue rejected HireQuest's $105 million non-binding acquisition proposal

5. May 12

   Acquisition offer

   24h Move

   +9.5%

   HireQuest submitted a $105 million all-cash acquisition offer

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

temp-to-perm staffing models, ism manufacturing index, injection molding

3 terms

temp-to-perm staffing models financial

"manufacturers increasingly turn to temporary and temp-to-perm staffing models"

A temp-to-perm staffing model is an arrangement where a worker is hired initially as a temporary employee—often through a staffing agency—with the option to convert them into a permanent, direct hire after a trial period. It matters to investors because it affects a company’s labor costs, hiring speed, and balance sheet risks: like a “test drive” for staffing, it can change payroll liabilities, recruitment expenses, and workforce stability, which in turn influence operating performance and forecasts.

ism manufacturing index technical

"the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index reports"

A monthly survey-based measure of U.S. manufacturing activity that tracks new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries, and inventories to produce a single diffusion index. Readings above 50 indicate overall expansion in the factory sector while readings below 50 indicate contraction, so it acts like a thermometer for manufacturing activity. Investors use it as a timely signal of economic strength, potential corporate sales and profits, and shifts in market sentiment and interest-rate expectations.

injection molding technical

"Machine and injection molding operators"

A manufacturing process that forces molten material, most often plastic, into a shaped cavity (a mold) where it cools and solidifies into repeated parts; think of pushing frosting into a shaped cookie cutter to make identical cookies. It matters to investors because the machines and molds are significant upfront costs, and the process determines unit cost, production speed, product consistency and supply-chain risk — all of which affect margins and the ability to scale.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Staffing and recruiting network's expanding manufacturing business suggests sector hiring remains strong, despite mixed national employment data

GOOSE CREEK, S.C., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New data from staffing and recruiting leader HireQuest, Inc. (NASDAQ: HQI), indicates demand for U.S. manufacturing workers remains significantly stronger than traditional labor reports suggest.

Based on HireQuest's Q1 and Q2 reporting:

• Manufacturing staffing revenue is tracking at approximately three times its pre-pandemic level, reflecting sustained demand from manufacturers nationwide.
• The company's manufacturing staffing footprint increased from 32 states in 2020 to 35 states in the first quarter of 2026
• Hiring demand spans food production, metal fabrication, solar assembly, packaging and other industrial sectors.

This growth comes as S&P Global reported that job cuts at U.S. factories in June 2026 ran near their highest levels since the end of the global financial crisis in 2009. Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index reports the sector growing at its fastest pace since 2021, with six straight months of expansion.

HireQuest views the disconnect as evidence of a fundamental shift in hiring practices. While traditional employment reports primarily measure permanent payroll additions, staffing firms often see hiring demand weeks or even months earlier, as manufacturers increasingly turn to temporary and temp-to-perm staffing models as a workforce expansion strategy.

"The narrative that manufacturers have stopped hiring simply doesn't match what we're seeing every day," said Rick Hermanns, President and CEO of HireQuest. "Manufacturers haven't eliminated hiring, but have fundamentally changed how they hire. More companies are using temporary and temp-to-perm staffing to maintain flexibility while continuing to expand production."

According to HireQuest, today's manufacturing hiring extends well beyond entry-level production positions. The company is seeing strong demand for:

• Production associates, assembly line workers, pickers and packers
• Machine and injection molding operators
• Skilled machinists
• Maintenance technicians
• Automation technicians
• Process engineers

Many of these in-demand temporary assignments convert into permanent employment, creating an increasingly common pathway into long-term manufacturing and skilled trade careers.

While AI and automation continue transforming factory floors, HireQuest says the technology is increasing - not replacing - demand for skilled workers who can operate, maintain and optimize advanced manufacturing systems.

"Manufacturing remains one of the country's largest sources of middle-class job opportunities," Hermanns said. "For workers looking to build long-term careers, we're seeing tremendous opportunity."

To learn more about the current state of manufacturing hiring, check out CEO Rick Hermanns' recent byline in Industry Today, "The Hidden Hiring Market Powering U.S. Manufacturing."

About HireQuest

HireQuest is a franchisor of staffing solutions with a footprint across the U.S. and international markets. Through its primary divisions - HireQuest Direct, HireQuest Health, Snelling, TradeCorp and DriverQuest - the company delivers temporary, direct-hire, and contract workforce solutions across a wide range of industries, including construction, light industrial, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, hospitality, logistics and more. From on-demand staffing to direct hire recruiting, HireQuest's divisions work together to provide workforce solutions that help businesses grow and create meaningful opportunities for the communities we serve. For more information, visit www.hirequest.com.

Media Contact:
Grace Horowitz
grace@babbitbodner.com 
770-598-9696

 

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SOURCE HireQuest

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How strong is manufacturing staffing demand reported by HireQuest (NASDAQ: HQI) in 2026?

HireQuest reports its manufacturing staffing revenue is tracking at about three times pre-pandemic levels. According to HireQuest, this Q1 and Q2 2026 data suggests sustained hiring demand from manufacturers nationwide, despite mixed national reports on factory job cuts and broader labor trends.

How has HireQuest’s manufacturing staffing footprint changed since 2020 for HQI?

HireQuest’s manufacturing staffing footprint expanded from 32 states in 2020 to 35 states by Q1 2026. According to HireQuest, this broader geographic reach reflects growing manufacturer use of temporary and temp-to-perm staffing solutions to support production across multiple industrial sectors.

Which manufacturing sectors are driving HireQuest (HQI) staffing demand in 2026?

HireQuest sees hiring demand across food production, metal fabrication, solar assembly, packaging and other industrial sectors. According to HireQuest, manufacturers increasingly rely on temporary and temp-to-perm workers to meet production needs while maintaining flexibility in a changing manufacturing labor market.

What types of manufacturing jobs are in demand through HireQuest (NASDAQ: HQI)?

HireQuest reports strong demand for production associates, machine operators, machinists, maintenance and automation technicians, and process engineers. According to HireQuest, many of these temporary manufacturing roles transition into permanent positions, creating pathways into long-term skilled trade and middle-class careers.

How is AI and automation affecting manufacturing jobs according to HireQuest (HQI)?

HireQuest says AI and automation are increasing demand for skilled manufacturing workers, not replacing them. According to HireQuest, manufacturers need employees who can operate, maintain and optimize advanced systems, supporting ongoing opportunities in technical roles on modern factory floors.

Why does HireQuest see a disconnect between manufacturing job cuts data and HQI staffing demand?

HireQuest attributes the disconnect to a shift toward temporary and temp-to-perm hiring models. According to HireQuest, traditional employment reports focus on permanent payrolls, while staffing firms often see demand earlier as manufacturers expand production using flexible workforce strategies.