Photo: Donald Jones and the LINK Staffing Irving team.
Across the United States, temporary and contract employees help manufacture products, move goods, care for patients, and support the daily work of businesses and communities. Their contributions reach across industries and into the everyday services people depend on.
According to the American Staffing Association, U.S. staffing companies employed 9.5 million temporary and contract workers during 2025. In the fourth quarter of that year, they employed an average of two million temporary and contract workers per week.
That scale is one reason National Staffing Employee Week, September 14-20, 2026, matters. Led by ASA, the observance recognizes the people whose skills and effort make that work possible.
The industry’s economic contribution takes shape in individual workplaces: an order prepared for shipment, a production task completed, a patient receiving care. For employees, work can also support a family, provide experience, or create room for the next personal goal. Those contributions deserve recognition at the national level and a sincere thank-you close to home.
An Irving Team Spotlight with Donald Jones
At LINK Staffing, we are marking the week by sharing the appreciation of Donald Jones, Branch Manager of our Irving, Texas, office, for the field employees and office team he works alongside.
Donald has been with LINK for over four years and brings 26 years of staffing experience. What continues to matter to him is the possibility of helping someone take a step forward.
"I go into the office each day with the hope that I can make a positive, lasting impact on someone’s life. Helping people is what I’m most passionate about!"
A chance to put experience to work
One candidate Donald met during his staffing career had recently moved from another country. He had solid work experience, but spoke very little English and was having difficulty finding employment in logistics.
Donald persuaded an employer to give him an opportunity. The candidate started as a Material Handler and adapted well to the role. A few years later, Donald says, the employee advanced to a leadership position as a Warehouse Supervisor / Forklift Trainer.
The opportunity gave him a place to start. His experience and work helped him move forward.
It is one person’s story, shared by someone who helped with that first opportunity. It also illustrates why recognizing an employee’s capabilities matters, and why the work that follows deserves its own credit.
Recognizing the people doing the work
For Donald, this week’s appreciation extends to both Irving’s field employees and the office team supporting them.
To the field employees, he offers a specific thank-you:
"I really appreciate their commitment to making safety a priority and their consistency with maintaining our company values."
To the Irving office team, his thanks are for keeping an open mind and a positive attitude when helping customers. He is grateful for their commitment, hard work, and the chance to do this work together.
His message to both teams is simple:
"Irving Team + Irving Field Staff = The real reason for our success!"
This National Staffing Employee Week, we join others across the industry in thanking the people doing the work and those helping them find opportunities. To our LINK field employees and office teams: thank you for the care, skill, and dedication you bring each day.
We’re proud to be part of your journey.