The rise of temporary work and flexible jobs: the opportunity it provides for staffing

It is hard to believe that we have now lived almost a full year in the pandemic. Since March, I’ve been writing articles on ways to adjust business strategy, adapt to changing times, use technology to maintain success, and more. When I wrote my first article related to the pandemic in March, I never thought that almost a year later the pandemic would still be as present in our lives as it is today.

However, what has changed in the last 10 months are the opportunities that the pandemic has brought to the staffing industry. A lot has changed since March and companies have adapted to this change. We have seen significant increases and decreases in industry demand. We have also seen a significant increase in working from home, among many other changes. Now, we are beginning to see some of the long-term effects that these industry changes have had on the workforce. The increase in temporary help and flexible jobs for the foreseeable future is among these changes.

Cause of the increase in temporary jobs

There are several reasons why experts predict that there will be an increase in contract jobs in the future. In general, the staffing industry has seen temporary jobs recover faster than direct hire jobs.

COVID-19 has actually added many of the jobs to the temporary workforcesuch as temperature checkers and contact tracers. There is currently a high demand for jobs helping with vaccine rollout, which could be a great opportunity for staffing companies if you can get the trained staff you need.

In addition to the addition of COVID-19 jobs, the pandemic has caused an increase in demand for contract labor in other areas. Some companies are still staying afloat and cautious about bringing back full-time employees. Contract workers are a minor investment, which is best in uncertain times and when businesses are recovering. The job can still be done without the added expense of benefits packages and other costs associated with a full-time new hire.

More workers have also turned to freelancing, as it has helped generate income for jobs lost during the pandemic. According to a survey conducted by Upwork between June and July 2020, 36% of the US workforce had been self-employed in the previous 12 months. 12% started working as a freelance during the pandemic (54% out of necessity) and 75% in search of financial stability. Of those surveyed, 88% said they are likely to be self-employed in the future.

In general, workers are also looking for a flexible work environment. More people are interested in doing a variety of jobs and looking to be able to control their schedule. According to a recent Monster poll, 92% of respondents said they think now is a good time to study a gig economy. 57% of respondents also said they would take a temporary job between jobs and 52% said they would like a long-term contract with flexible hours.

All these reasons are the cause of the increase in the demand for temporary help. Whether it’s the demand for jobs related to COVID-19 or the way the pandemic has caused the workforce and employers to change the way they’re used to doing things. In the process, we have adapted to these changes and it has brought new opportunities for both workers and employers.

Cause of the rise in remote work

As we all know and have probably experienced at one point or another, there has been a rise in remote work. Personally, I never worked remotely full time, until March came around. I have now been working remotely for the last 10 months and it has really become the new normal. When I think back to the days we all went to the office, it seems like a long time ago. Workers and employers are starting to feel the same, if they don’t already. Remote work has become a new normal, and it’s here to stay in some ways.

From the employer’s point of view, companies have seen that working from home can work. They have seen employees still able to complete their tasks and, in some cases, have seen an increase in productivity. Operating costs have also likely gone down as they are spending less money with employees working remotely (no more coffee breaks, employee lunches, etc.). With this, employers will think about adding more work-at-home opportunities in the future and/or eliminating an office all together. According to a survey conducted by Verizon, 86% of global companies believe that the digital workplace will co-exist with the physical workplace post-COVID-19 and 78% expect to increase remote work.

Employees have also become accustomed to the work from home environment and prefer to maintain it in some form. This can include coming into the office a few days a week or working remotely full time. In a survey conducted by PWC, more than half of employees (55%) want to work remotely three days a week or more.

However, remote work is not just for permanent employees. The staffing industry has seen an increase in remote work by temporary workers since the pandemic began and more temporary workers are predicted to continue working remotely post-pandemic. Employers who are used to temporary workers being on-site have learned that this does not necessarily have to be the case. Not all temporary jobs require the employee to work on-site, and the pandemic has shown this. This opens up significant opportunities for employers hiring temporary staff.

Opportunities it brings for staffing

So what does the rise in temporary help and flexible jobs really mean for the staffing industry? Open the door to new horizons. Now is the time to start planning your short and long term strategy. Statistics show that the workforce will make this change for the foreseeable future. By adapting to change now, staffing companies can stay ahead. So where can you start?

Discuss temporary opportunities with employers who typically hire full-time

The boom in temporary help isn’t just for companies that employ contract workers. It can be a new opportunity for companies that are normally looking to hire full time. If a client would be open to the idea of ​​contract work, it might be a good opportunity to discuss the raise and benefits of contract work compared to hiring a full-time employee. Not only is it less expensive, as discussed above, but it opens the door for scouting more qualified candidates looking for contract work. Not every position may be suitable for contract work, but it is certainly an avenue that can be explored if the client is open to it. To test the waters, you might even offer a temporary hire plan. If the subcontracted worker ends up exercising and wants to stay with the company, he can join full time.

Flexible jobs add another layer of opportunity

As temporary jobs are no longer just for companies looking to hire, flexible jobs are no longer just for permanent placements. As statistics have shown, more workers are seeking the opportunity to work remotely. This brings new opportunities for both contracts and permanent placements. Allows staffing companies to expand their search for qualified candidates out of state. It also offers the opportunity to find more qualified candidates based on your preference to work at home. There may be highly skilled people you could miss out on if they prefer not to work in a physical location.

The opportunity to offer more flexible jobs will ultimately help increase the candidate pool. If a client would be open to remote work, now is a good time to discuss the increased interest in it and also the benefits. Not all jobs can be done from home, but think about the jobs that could be done and the opportunity it brings for the client.

Take Advantage of In-Demand Industries

There are several industries in demand now that will continue to be in demand and offer the opportunity to hire contract and/or remote workers. Below are some of these industries that could provide new opportunities for staffing companies.

As mentioned above, there has been an increase in jobs related to COVID-19. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries are booming and in desperate need of assistance. to meet the demand for vaccine launches. This is a great opportunity to partner with these industries and help them employ contract workers.

The information technology industry also boomed in 2020 and will continue to spiral upward. These jobs have been more stable during the pandemic because they have not been dependent on having a physical location. Most IT jobs can be done online and offer a streamlined work-at-home environment. There has also been an increase in help desk/PC support jobs as more organizations work from home. With the rise of IT jobs and the flexible work environment they bring, it’s another great industry for staffing companies to explore.

Customer service representatives and call center agents have also seen an increase in demand in healthcare, IT, and online retail.. As more businesses go virtual, there is a greater need for software and app-related customer service help to help manage equipment remotely. More people are also shopping online, so there is a greater demand for online retail customer service representatives. Customer service representatives may also offer the opportunity to work remotely.

Industrial and Manufacturing have also seen increases in demand.. Manufacturers producing essential goods have needed to significantly increase staff since the start of the pandemic. If staffing companies haven’t already looked into essential goods manufacturing companies, this could be an opportunity to hire contract workers. Manufacturers of non-essential goods are also beginning to ramp up production. Business orders for durable goods like tools, appliances and new cars have risen for eight straight months. This shows that manufacturers are ramping up their production of goods in anticipation of strong sales in 2021 and may need to hire more staff now or in the near future.

These are just a few of the industries that are in demand now and for the foreseeable future. By researching industries that are booming and expected to grow, staffing companies will set themselves up for future success. If they can incorporate contract and/or remote work into these industries, it will be a win-win.

running with the opportunity

The pandemic has certainly brought its challenges in the past year, but the silver lining is that it has brought some new opportunities for the staffing industry to take advantage of. Change can be scary, but now is the time to seize the opportunities that present themselves and prepare for the changing future.

References:

UpWork Survey

monster survey

Verizon Survey

PWC survey