Forget What You Know.
More than three million people are placed in temporary jobs in our country every day. These men and women, along with the 20,000 staffing firms that employ them, contribute more than $160 billion to the U.S. economy annually. These data, from the American Staffing Association, reinforce what industry owners and executives already know: Temporary staffing provides an essential employee resource to businesses of all kinds.
How about the 17 million employees who receive a W2 from a staffing agency each year? What’s in it for them?
Set aside your biases, negative perceptions, and what you think you know about who works temp and why.
Choosing Temp Work
Working for a temporary staffing agency is a choice many people make because of the tremendous flexibility, variety and opportunity it provides.
Temporary employees report that working temp makes them more employable, helps them learn new skills, and helps the gain valuable experience.
Working temp can be the bridge to a permanent job.
“Helping our employees improve their lives is central to our mission,” said Benny Elzweig, chief operating officer of Active Staffing. “We don’t stand in the way of our associates’ growth or prevent them from leaving us for permanent jobs with our clients.
“We are proud of the fact that nearly 20% of our associates are hired by our clients. In fact, we have one client whose entire management team is made up of former Active associates,” he said.
However, not all associates are looking to move into permanent roles. For some, the decision to work temp is a choice that’s smart for their future.
Meet Jarrell
Jarrell L. has been an Active Staffing temporary associate at our Arlington, Texas, branch for more than two years. In that time, he’s had three long-term jobs, all in the warehouse and logistics industry.
Did you see what we did there? We just busted another myth about temp work: it’s not synonymous with “one day only.” Many temporary assignments are long term, like those Jarrell has had.
“I’ve been working for temp agencies since I got out of college,” Jarrell said. “The jobs are good and Active has found me work that is best for my qualifications.”
Jarrell likes staying flexible, in a job that can work around his school schedule while he pursues his bachelor’s degree in business marketing.
“I’ve been upfront with Active and my supervisors about my goals and aspirations to earn my degree and move into a professional career,” he said. “I don’t want to commit to an employer now. Temp work benefits me.”
This is My Journey
Jarrell is typical of what American Staffing Association research has found about why temp work is attractive. People learn new skills, gain valuable experience, and develop good work habits.
“If you’re consistent at a job, get up and go to work every day, it fits with the consistency you need in any career,” Jarrell said. “The drive to get up every day and go to the job gives me motivation and I think it says a lot about my character.”
Here’s another benefit to people like Jarrell. Working in a variety of jobs helps you learn what kind of work you don’t want to do.
“This is my journey,” Jarrell said.
Skills, Unemployment & Business
More than half of Americans agree that employable adults can’t find a job because they lack the necessary skills. This, at a time when unemployment continues at record lows, is bad news for business.
What’s good for business is making temp staffing a part of their employment model, giving men and women like Jarrell the opportunity to build skills, experience a variety of environments and industries, and create a bridge to the future.
If you want to work with people like Jarrell, or explore how to incorporate staffing in your business, we can help. Active has been making a living helping others make a living for more than 70 years.
“Contact me personally and let’s talk,” Elzweig said.