Do Temp Jobs Benefit Both Companies and Workers?

Over the last two decades, there has been a steady growth in the number of workers finding temp jobs through a placement agency. Canada now has one in eight of its working population engaged in a temp job. While some employers are hiring on a temporary basis due to current economic uncertainty, a large number of companies engaged temp workers when the economy was buoyant. Clearly there is more to temporary work than a response to the ups and downs of the economy.

Benefits to Companies:

Temp jobs may arise if employers need to cover long-term absence, due to sickness or maternity. Short-term projects or busy periods, such as the end of the financial year, may create temp job opportunities. Using a temp agency allows a company to respond quickly to peaks in demand, without having to go through a lengthy and time-consuming recruitment process. A temp agency continuously has its fingers on the pulse of the local labour market. An Oakville staffing agency will have a pool of people ready and willing to work in the Oakville area.

Recruitment is an activity that most small companies seldom carry out. They are not experts in hiring staff. This can lead to problems down the line, if the appointment does not work out well. Temp agencies are experts at recruiting the right person for the role. The employer can then assess the work of the individual during their temporary placement. If the person is the right fit for the job, the employer can offer permanent employment. According to a survey by CareerBuilder, around half of the employers who expected to offer temporary job opportunities during 2012 expected to go on to make the appointments permanent.

Benefits for Individuals:

Individuals can benefit from working in temporary jobs as part of their career path. Temporary work allows them to build experience, gain new skills, and showcase their talents to employers.

New graduates often struggle to get their feet on the first rung of the career ladder due to lack of practical work experience. Temporary work allows graduates to build experience for their resume. While employers may be wary of offering a permanent opportunity to an untested graduate, temp jobs remove this risk.

Working in a temporary capacity allows individuals to gain new skills. Temp admin jobs can expose workers to a wide variety of employment settings as administration is required in every company. Temp admin workers can find themselves allocated to sectors as diverse as manufacturing, retail, finance, or hospitality. Gaining an understanding of a varied range of industries can expand a worker’s resume and develop new career opportunities.