CHICAGO – March 5, 2015 – Is the growth in temporary jobs here to stay? Temporary help services was among the first industries to add jobs when the recession officially ended, growing 15 percent from 2009 to 2010 and 57 percent from 2009 to 2014.
Nearly 3 million people are employed in temporary jobs today, and new analysis from CareerBuilder shows that number will continue to rise in 2015 and beyond. Temporary employment is expected to grow 3 percent (75,384 jobs) from 2014 to 2015 and 13 percent (354,877 jobs) from 2014 to 2019.
The study is based on data from Economic Modeling Specialists Intl (EMSI), CareerBuilder’s labor market analysis arm that pulls data from over 90 national and state employment resources.
“Temporary employment will continue on an upward trajectory as companies look for ways to quickly adapt to market dynamics,” said Eric Gilpin, President of CareerBuilder’s Staffing & Recruiting and Healthcare divisions. “Two in five U.S. employers expect to hire temporary or contract workers this year, which opens new doors for workers who want to build relationships with different organizations and explore career options.”
CareerBuilder compiled a list of fast-growing occupations for temporary employment from 2014 to 2019, and a list of metros with the greatest concentration of temporary jobs today. Among occupations that pay less than $15 per hour*, temporary employment is expected to grow in double digits in a variety of areas:
Occupation |
Temp Jobs (2014) |
Temp Jobs (2019) |
% Change (2014 - 2019) |
Median Hourly Earnings |
Home Health Aides |
17,822 |
20,420 |
15% |
$10.12 |
Gaming Dealers |
1,524 |
1,744 |
14% |
$9.22 |
Childcare Workers |
3,166 |
3,618 |
14% |
$9.81 |
Cooks, Restaurant |
2,978 |
3,396 |
14% |
$10.73 |
Substitute Teachers |
29,061 |
33,099 |
14% |
$13.00 |
Demonstrators and Product Promoters |
5,762 |
6,549 |
14% |
$12.26 |
Retail Salespersons |
16,840 |
19,114 |
14% |
$10.13 |
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers |
15,275 |
17,328 |
13% |
$11.73 |
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs |
1,554 |
1,762 |
13% |
$11.28 |
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners |
18,140 |
20,547 |
13% |
$10.07 |
Pharmacy Technicians |
3,280 |
3,693 |
13% |
$14.47 |
Bakers |
1,206 |
1,327 |
10% |
$11.22 |
Among occupations that pay $15 or more per hour*, hot areas for temporary employment include:
Occupation |
Temp Jobs (2014) |
Temp Jobs (2019) |
% Change (2014 - 2019) |
Median Hourly Earnings |
Computer Systems Analysts |
11,802 |
14,024 |
19% |
$39.15 |
Accountants and Auditors |
11,130 |
12,654 |
14% |
$31.40 |
Management Analysts |
10,923 |
12,418 |
14% |
$38.49 |
Computer User Support Specialists |
19,597 |
22,276 |
14% |
$22.68 |
Software Developers, Applications |
11,698 |
13,292 |
14% |
$44.95 |
Customer Service Representatives |
88,610 |
100,642 |
14% |
$15.02 |
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers |
25,075 |
28,479 |
14% |
$18.67 |
Registered Nurses |
46,052 |
52,296 |
14% |
$32.60 |
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General |
23,806 |
27,027 |
14% |
$17.26 |
Machinists |
21,493 |
24,391 |
13% |
$19.07 |
Construction Laborers |
50,505 |
57,275 |
13% |
$15.61 |
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive |
68,486 |
77,660 |
13% |
$15.89 |
Twenty metro areas have a concentration of temporary jobs that is greater than the 2 percent national average, with major manufacturing cities leading the way. The top ten metros with the highest percentage of temporary jobs in relation to overall employment are:
Metro |
Total Workforce 2014 |
Temp Workforce 2014 |
% Share of Temp Jobs |
Memphis, TN-MS-AR |
610,952 |
30,816 |
5.0% |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI |
523,078 |
24,739 |
4.7% |
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN |
984,359 |
38,530 |
3.9% |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
4,413,345 |
150,809 |
3.4% |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN |
884,210 |
30,134 |
3.4% |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
2,431,278 |
77,080 |
3.2% |
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN |
620,763 |
19,304 |
3.1% |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX |
3,288,169 |
99,325 |
3.0% |
Columbus, OH |
990,849 |
29,908 |
3.0% |
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI |
841,991 |
24,299 |
2.9% |
In a separate CareerBuilder and Harris Poll study, 46 percent of employers reported that they plan to hire temporary or contract workers in 2015, up from 42 percent last year. Of these employers, more than half (56 percent) plan to transition some temporary or contract workers into full-time, permanent roles.
*Median hourly earnings covers anyone working in that occupation whether they are temporary or full-time, permanent staff.
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