CareerBuilder Survey: temporary and contract hiring to increase in 2012

About 36 percent of American businesses will hire contract or temporary workers in 2012, up from 34 percent in 2011, 30 percent in 2010, and 28 percent in 2009, a new national survey finds. Of the companies hiring temporary or contract workers this year, 35 percent have plans to hire them on a permanent basis. […]

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About 36 percent of American businesses will hire contract or temporary workers in 2012, up from 34 percent in 2011, 30 percent in 2010, and 28 percent in 2009, a new national survey finds. Of the companies hiring temporary or contract workers this year, 35 percent have plans to hire them on a permanent basis.  

That’s according to a survey of more than 3,000 hiring managers and human-resources professionals — conducted by Harris Interactive, on behalf of CareerBuilder from Nov. 9 to Dec. 5, 2011. 

The survey found that 27 percent of companies will hire temporary or contract workers in the first quarter of 2012. 

“Temporary jobs from staffing and recruiting firms are playing an increasingly important role in the economic recovery,” Eric Gilpin, president of CareerBuilder’s Staffing & Recruiting Group, said in a news release. “Employers are relying on temporary and contract workers to support leaner staffs, and in many cases, will transition those workers to permanent roles.” 

The following are examples of staffing and recruiting positions currently in demand, according to CareerBuilder: 

 

Health care

Occupational or physical therapist

Speech-language pathologist

 

Industrial

Maintenance technician or mechanic

CNC (computer numerical control) 

machinist

 

Information technology

Java or .net developer

Network engineer

 

Office-clerical

Administrative assistant

Customer-service representative

 

Professional-managerial

Business analyst

Marketing assistant

 

“Staffing and recruiting firms are on the front lines when it comes to sourcing talent for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors. Candidates will find good pay, flexibility, opportunities to change careers, valuable skills training, and a bridge to permanent employment,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and CEO of the American Staffing Association. “We’ll see more employers and job seekers making connections in the New Year.”

Harris Interactive conducted this survey online within the U.S. among 3,023 hiring managers and human-resources professionals (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government). 

CareerBuilder’s online career site, CareerBuilder.com, is the largest in the United States with more than 24 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs, and 40 million résumés, the company says.

The American Staffing Association and its affiliated chapters advance the interests of staffing and recruiting firms of all sizes and across all sectors through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. 

Journal Staff: