While companies are still letting employees go by the thousands and unemployment continues to increase, there is one bright spot on the job front: temporary employment.
According to recent information released by the Labor Department, temporary help services added 44,000 since July 2009 – this includes 34,000 added in October.
Why Employers are Turning to Temporary Employees
The main reason companies are hiring more temporary workers is because they can pay less for them now and have them already trained and poised to become full-time workers if economic conditions improve. Here are some major benefits of hiring a temp:
- Avoid paying for benefits: For employers, health care and benefits can cost a pretty penny, so by going with a temp, they can avoid these major expenses.
- Easier to lay off: When both the employee and co-workers know about a position being temporary, no one is as upset by a layoff.
Which Industries are Hiring Temps?
You may be wondering what industries hire temp workers. The answer is virtually all of them. You could be a temp in an entry-level position, all the way to an executive or medical worker. However, according to the Commerce Department, the jobs that saw the most growth in temp employment in October were factories, private research and manufacturing. On the other hand, staffing firms said they see a lot of demand from retailers, as well as seasonal jobs that include customer service, inventory, accounting and technology.
Why You Might Consider Temporary Employment
If you’ve been waiting for a job to come in, there’s nothing wrong with looking at temporary job opportunities to keep you going – especially if your unemployment has run out.
Many professionals overlook temp jobs because they’re so used to searching for staff positions. It’s not something that has even crossed their minds. However, temp jobs offer an opportunity to break into new fields without previous experience while being able to leave an assignment and find a new one without being penalized.
Since there is a rise in temporary employment, there’s nothing wrong with diving in and acquiring a temp job yourself. It could help you acquire much-needed income and possible attain the personal position you’ve been looking for.
Would you consider temporary employment?
