US News reported that since the end of the recession, 54% of new jobs in the USA have been temp work. This statistic comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which also indicated that roughly one in every 50 Americans held a temporary or contingent position as of the end of October.

While you may think that these trends are reflective of the uncertain economy, and that employers are hiring temporary labour because they are unsure that they will have the resources to hire full time staff, you may not be seeing the whole picture. The uncertainty in the economy is certainly driving employers to hire temporary or contract workers; however many employers are beginning to see that their contingent workforce allows them to be agile in the marketplace. They can hire highly skilled workers for specific projects, and when the project is over, they are not forced to find other tasks and roles for these individuals. US News reported that a survey issued by the consulting firm McKinsey 58% of employers said that they plan to hire more “part-time, contract, and temporary workers” over the next five years.