HR Dive says there is a huge demand for temporary workers, and it’s growing. Last year, more than 9,000 temp positions were filled in the second quarter alone. Why the influx of temp employees? The article said that workers have had a taste of the flexibility that comes with these contract roles—and they want more. This influx added more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2017, and the numbers continue to rise. So far this year, demand has increased by another 3%.
Why is temp work so hot right not? Are there benefits to these roles the traditional job doesn’t have? How can workers make the transition into the flexibility of the contract job?
What’s Hot and What’s Not About Temporary Work?
Clearly, temp work is no longer the job of last resort. Most temp workers would tell you there are some clear-cut benefits of this approach beyond the flexibility of choosing when, if or what you want to work on or in. The flexibility cannot be discounted; you often have better work/life balance in these roles because you are there to do a specific job, not climb the corporate ladder. The difficult 60-hour workweeks are not typically what a temporary worker experiences every day. Even if you do work overtime, the roles are often paid hourly, not salaried, so you reap the benefit of any extra time you put in.
Other benefits include:
- Temp work is a fast way to improve a resume that shows a lack of experience. Taking a short-term job can help you learn new skills and gain experience quickly. This can be helpful if you need to modernize your stack or if you’re trying to switch directions in your career path.
- Temp work can put you back to work faster. Employers often have a sense of urgency when it comes to staffing up, so they move pretty quickly to fill these roles. This sense of urgency, coupled with a tight labor market can work in favor of an inexperienced job candidate, potentially allowing them to get their foot in the door faster.
- Temp work could lead to a permanent position. It allows you to try it before you buy it, especially in situations where the job is temp-to-hire. This can be beneficial for both employers and employees. Whether you go permanent or not, it’s a good introduction to the company and a good way to build your resume.
- Temp work can always fill gaps in your resume. Since it’s easier to find a job when you have a job, a temp position can keep you working, with income coming in. Hiring managers won’t need to question any gaps in your employment history and will instead know you stayed busy during your time away from the “real world.” What you may find, however, is you end up turning this into a career path.
- Temp work is very lucrative; most of these employees are paid at a higher rate than their permanent co-workers. That’s particularly true in IT, where the hourly rate for the contract worker can be extremely lucrative. In fact, many workers choose to stay in contract work for this very reason.
Contact Blackstone to explore the possibilities of a temporary position as part of your career path.