Temporary may not be so temporary these days

Have you noticed that temp agencies no longer call themselves temporary? They are now known as “staffing agencies.” The name change could be more than symbolic.

Temporary and contract hiring are traditionally viewed as leading indicators for the labor force. Temp hiring typically expands before permanent jobs after a recession. But I wonder if we aren’t witnessing a structural change — a result of changes in both the kinds of work we do and the rising costs of benefits.

Read more about my thoughts in my recent Barron’s item on temporary job growth here.

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