16 Aug High demand expected for temp workers in post-pandemic economy
The extent of changes that COVID-19 has caused—and continues to cause—in the U.S. economy is seemingly
beyond measure. As part of these changes, the role of temp workers in all business sectors has significantly
evolved. It becomes important to understand, therefore, what the forecasted trends reveal for a post-pandemic
world.
Temp work is here to stay
Throughout this pandemic, more people than ever have adopted remote working as part of their daily routines.
While it’s still unclear what percentage of individuals will continue to work remotely once the pandemic abates,
preliminary indications are that this yet-to-be-quantified factor will not hinder or detract from temporary staffing
requirements.
Not surprisingly, a recent analysis suggests that demand for post-pandemic temporary labor will vary by industry.
It’s worth noting, however, that within the light-industrial sector, expectations are for a significant increase in
demand—particularly in distribution, fulfillment and customer-support roles.
Temp workers are positioned well
As the market begins to heat up again, so too will the demand for temp workers. From an economic perspective,
such a development is consistent with accepted theory. When the economy expands, employers are able to
ramp up quickly by using temp workers until the permanent staff is hired. In fact, temporary employment is the most
common method employers use when seeking to increase their workforce; it is regarded as a “standard” tool in
workforce-level adjustment.
Although temp workers account for just 2% of total nonfarm employment in the United States, employers are
increasingly relying on temps to provide greater flexibility in meeting staffing needs. In fact, COVID has not only
caused the importance and value of temp workers to rise—but also caused many companies to now integrate
temp jobs as a permanent part of their post-pandemic workforce models.
The impact of economic uncertainty on temp workers
Of course, no one can know for sure what the U.S. economy will look like once COVID (and all its variants) is
ancient history; this entire pandemic represents new ground for literally each and every person alive today. So
despite predictions, uncertainty looms—as does a period of unsteady readjustment until a “new normal” finally
takes root.
However, it can still be stated with confidence that any future virus mutations, associated business slowdowns
and shutdowns and economic fluctuations will collectively result in sudden peaks and valleys in demand for
workers. Ultimately, this means companies—in seeking to maximize their flexibility—will remain hesitant about
permanent recruitment and therefore continue to gravitate toward project-based (i.e., temporary work)
employment models.
Strike while the iron is hot
Here’s the bottom-line reality: As a temp worker, the time to act is now. Today, companies are offering workers
sign-on bonuses and incentives to an unprecedented degree. However, such inducements cannot (and will not)
last indefinitely; it is too cost-prohibitive for employers. Also, numerous federal and state agencies are under
pressure to curtail or end certain stimulus-aid and unemployment benefits. Lastly, there is the simple factor of
having an aggregate fixed capacity for U.S. jobs—regardless of the economic conditions. Even at peak levels,
the job market can only accommodate so many workers; once all available positions are filled, the opportunity
window closes.
In short, anyone seeking temporary employment would be well advised to begin their search immediately.
If you’re looking for a staffing company with over 25 years of experience in the employment industry, Masis Staffing Solutions provides unparalleled service. Reach out to us today to find out more about how our team of experts can help you find the perfect position or candidate for you!
