Temporary and contract assignments help Americans get the permanent jobs they want

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by American Staffing Association, 2014 ASA Staffing Employee Survey Results

We have new hard facts that put a fresh face on a powerful truth about the staffing industry: Temporary and contract work is an effective bridge to permanent employment.

Virtually all respondents to the 2014 ASA Staffing Employee Survey said that securing a permanent job was important to them, with half (49%) stating that was their primary reason for choosing temporary or contract work. Among those who cited a permanent job as their top priority, 99% achieved their objective (see Figure 1).

Temporary and contract employees are about as likely to work full-time as all adult workers (see Figure 2). Among those who bridged to permanent jobs, 94% work full-time.

While most staffing employees seek permanent employment, flexibility is also highly important to 97%.

And nine out of 10 say they are satisfied with their staffing company.

These are just some of the key takeaways from this year’s landmark ASA Staffing Employee Survey, in which nearly 12,000 temporary and contract employees from 275 staffing companies participated. Read on for more results.


 

Fig 2. 76% of Staffing Employees Work Full-Time, About the Same as the Overall U.S. Labor Force

Fig 2. 76% of Staffing Employees Work Full-Time, About the Same as the Overall U.S. Labor Force


 

Fig 03. Bridge to Permanent Jobs Drives Staffing Employment

Fig 03. Bridge to Permanent Jobs Drives Staffing Employment

Bridging to Permanent Jobs

Staffing employees have many motivations for selecting temporary and contract work. But most want permanent jobs. The top four reasons for choosing temporary or contract work are related to future employment ambitions (see Figure 3):

  • 49%  It’s a way to get a permanent job

  • 40%  Was unable to find a permanent job

  • 28%  To obtain work experience

  • 24%  To improve skills

Seeking Flexibility and Skills

Other longtime hallmarks of the staffing industry also were confirmed by the results of the ASA Staffing Employee Survey.

One in five respondents (22%) said the reason for choosing temporary or contract employment was for work schedule flexibility.

Temporary and contract work also is a sought-after way to gain skills and work experience. Nearly 90% of temporary and contract employees reported that their staffing employment experience made them more employable (see Figure 4). Six out of 10 cite these reasons:

  • Fig 04. Nearly 90% of Staffing Employees Say Temporary or Contract Work Made Them More Employable

  • Fig 04. Nearly 90% of Staffing Employees Say Temporary or Contract Work Made Them More Employable

  • 62%  Developed new or improved work skills

  • 59%  Helped strengthen my résumé

  • 59%  Received on-the-job experience

Experiencing High Satisfaction

Whether they were aiming for a permanent job or seeking flexibility, staffing employees gave overwhelmingly positive ratings about their experience. Nine out of 10 temporary and contract employees were satisfied with their staffing company, with 74% being very or extremely satisfied (see Figure 5).

Overall, the results of the 2014 ASA Staffing Employee Survey are almost identical to the results of the 2006 survey, which was conducted as the staffing industry was approaching its prerecession peak. In the most recent survey, there was a slight increase in the proportion of employees who turned to staffing firms out of need for work, as well as a modest decline in the preference for flexibility, but altogether the results of both surveys suggest remarkable stability in positive attitudes and experiences among America’s temporary and contract employees.

Fig 05. Nine Out of 10 Staffing Employees Were Satisfied With Their Employer

Fig 05. Nine Out of 10 Staffing Employees Were Satisfied With Their Employer

Confirming the Industry Value

These findings serve as current affirmation of what every staffing professional knows well: When Americans want permanent jobs, temporary and contract assignments provide the bridge they need to secure the employment they want.

The findings also show that for workers seeking flexibility, the staffing industry offers that, too.

These attributes contribute to the overwhelmingly high satisfaction level reported by staffing employees.

 

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