Temporary Work Blossoms in Wake of Economic Doldrums

As statistics about the economy mount, how are temporary workers accounted for?

The company Manpower Inc. recruits workers to complete special tasks or to temporarily relieve other employees.

In a press release, Manpower reflects on what its success at continuing to hire temporary workers in this economy means.

Temporary employment was little changed in January, with a fall of 11,000 in the number of people taken on for temporary assignments during the month. This suggests employers still have a degree of uncertainty about the sustainability of the recovery and are opting to grow their flexible workforce rather than risk full-time hires at this stage. Manpower’s quarterly Employment Outlook Survey for the first three months of 2011 shows that American employers report the most optimistic hiring intentions in more than two years.

Recruiters may wish to ponder what this optimism means for their clients.  Will there be more full-time jobs?  Would a decrease in temporary employment impact your business?

“As the economy begins to click into second gear, employers are hiring but they are doing so with extreme caution. They will only hire individuals who have the exact specificity of skills they are looking for,” said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO. “The economy will gather strength as 2011 progresses and businesses will need to work with their people to unleash their full spectrum of skills and engage them on a human level to retain their best employees in an era when competition for talents becomes ever greater.”