Temp Jobs Fact Sheet
Chris Ruska
University at Buffalo Law Student
Background
We have seen many changes in
our economy over the past decade due
to the recession. The most notable
change being the reliance of employers
on the temporary help service industry.
In 2013 alone, the temporary help
services industry was increased by
more than 19,000 employees each
month. i This has resulted in more than
70,000 employees being placed in the
industry last year. ii
The temporary help service industry is a segment of our economy that takes a variety of
jobs and careers into account. Temporary employment is used to supplement both blue collar and
professional jobs including: (1) Office/Clerical Administrative, (2) Health Care, (3) Engineering,
(4) Accounting/Finance, (5) Sales/Marketing, (6) Industrial, (7) Information Technology, (8)
Scientific, (9) Management, and (10) Legal. iii
National data regarding these jobs and the temporary help service industry are primarily
compiled on a yearly basis by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). iv Additionally, data from
2010 can also be found through the Census Bureau’s online database. Information is scare on a
regional level; however, the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEOWorks) has tracked
their placements in the temporary help services industry over the past four years.
National Scope
Demographics
In 1999 there were roughly 1.2 million temporary workers employed in the United States.
Nearly fifteen years later that number has rose more than 1000%, to 17 million temporary
workers employed in the United States.v A large portion of these jobs are held by employees
between the ages of 25-34 years old. vi A more in depth examination of demographics reveals
that females have a slightly higher employment rate than males in temporary help services. vii
However, once employed, males are more likely to lose their temporary employment at a quicker
rate than females. viii
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In addition, the racial composition of the temporary work sector is roughly broken down
as follows: White (74%); Black (21%); Hispanic (13%).ix An overwhelming amount of these
individuals have graduated or attended college at some point in time. Only 14% have failed to
complete a high school education, indicating that the temporary help service industry is
becoming more specialized. x Further, one of the most shocking demographical statistics comes
from an analysis of the marital status of temporary employees. Nearly 44% of temporary workers
are never married. This could be a result of low pay and a lack of job stability. Conversely, this
could also be a result of most temporary employees being middle-aged.
Impact
One of the main drawbacks to temporary employment is the lack of stability. Employees
often complain about the length and consistency of their employment assignments. The average
length of a temporary or contract employment placement is three to five months.xi Further, over
the past year, using temporary help on a day to day basis has increased; however, it is trending
downward over the last decade.xii Day to day employment deprives an employee from getting
into a routine and contributing in the workforce. Additionally over 5,000 temporary employees
lose their job every month, which speaks to the stability of the sector.
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Another major concern of temporary help service employees is pay and benefits.
Employers realize their biggest gains by failing to extended benefits to these employees. The
average wage is roughly $15 per hour, but this is skewed by the recent emergence of
professional; higher paying temporary employment.xiii Requiring employers to offer these
employees benefits would help remedy this disproportionately low wage. Generally, an
employee switching from temporary employment to full-time employment will realize a 30%
increase in gross pay.
Regional Scope
Although regional data is not as redily available, bits and pieces can be compiled from
the BLS, the Census Burea, and CEOWorks. This data indicates that temporary employment is
on the rise in Buffalo. It has increased roughly 11% over the past four years. It is important to
note that other areas throughout New York are seeing a much more rapid increase in temporary
help services. For example, the New York and Long Island region has has seen a 34% increase
in temporary help services over the past four years. Closer to home, Rochester has noticed a 27%
increase in the same four year period. This could be a good indicator of the future temporary help
services sector in Buffalo. If trends continue, Buffalo will follow suit and temporary
employement should increase similarly in our region. Passing legislation may be only option
availble to slow the reliance on the rapidly increasing industry.
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Metro
2009
Temp
Help
Jobs
2013
Temp
Help Jobs
Temp
Job
Growth
%
Diff
Total Job
Change
(2009-2013)
% of New
Jobs in
Temp Help
Poughkeepsie-NewburghMiddletown, NY
1,422
1,639
217
15%
570
38%
Rochester, NY
7,412
9,440
2,028
27%
6,638
31%
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
2,758
2,969
211
8%
1,222
17%
New York-Northern New
Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA
86,265
115,897
29,632 34%
324,461
9%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa
Clara, CA
12,466
18,473
6,007
48%
71,381
8%
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY
5,049
5,615
566
11%
9,015
6%
QCEW Employees & Non-QCEW Employees – EMSI 2013.2 Class of Worker
2013
Avg.
Earnings
$33,815
$32,809
$32,487
$39,265
$54,756
$33,035
Additionally, much like on a national level, stability, pay, and benefits are major
concerns of temporary employees in the Buffalo region. CEOWork’s has reported that the
average length of a placement they make is about four months, which is comparable to the
national statistics. The same data reveals that the average pay in this region is $9 per hour.xiv This
is a major concern considering the national average is $15 per hour. However, on an annual
basis, the average yearly imcome of a temporary employee was roughly $33,000. Working long
hours is prevelent in temporary help services and could be a possible explination for the
discrepancy between hourly and annual pay.
Unlike the national data, the data on a regional level does not include an overwhelming
amount of demographic information. No information is available on age, race/ethnic
composition, or marital status. However, the data compiled over the past four years by
CEOWork’s indicated that a greater number of males than females are placed through this
agency. This should not be looked at as a deviation from the national norm since CEOWork’s
services a very narrow sector of individuals. Additionally, the data reveals that the majority of
placements are made in construction or industrial industries.xv More specifically, the most
popular fields of employment in the Buffalo region are demolition, clean up, factory work, and
warehousing.
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References
i
National Estimates Brach Staff, Current Employment Statistic Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics (Feb. 7, 2014),
http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/ceshighlights.pdf
ii
National Estimates Branch Staff, The Employment Situation, Bureau of Labor Statistics (Jan. 1, 2014),
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
iii
Data from ASA Quarterly Employment and Sales Survey, ASA (Jan. 1, 2013),
https://www.americanstaffing.net/statistics/employment.cfm
iv
ibid
v
Nancy Hanover, 17 million temporary workers in America, World Socialist Web (Jul. 15, 2013),
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/07/15/temp-j15.html
vi
Section 12, Labor Force/Employment and Earnings, U.S. Census Bureau (Jan. 1, 2012),
http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/12statab/labor.pdf
vii
ibid
viii
Section 12, Labor Force/Employment and Earnings, U.S. Census Bureau (Jan. 1, 2012),
http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/12statab/labor.pdf
ix
Marisa DiNatale Alternative Work Arrangements, Characteristics of and preferences for alternative work
arrangements, Bureau of Labor Statistics (Mar. 1, 2001), http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2001/03/art2full.pdf
x
ibid
xi
Regina Robo, Life and Work in a Temporary Job, Salary.com, http://www.salary.com/life-and-work-in-atemporary-job/
xii
Data from ASA Employment and Sales Survey, ASA (Jan. 1, 2013),
http://www.americanstaffing.net/statistics/staffingsurvey.cfm
xiii
Chris Isidore, Jobs are back! But the Pay Stinks, CNN Money (Jan. 21, 2011),
http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/31/news/economy/low_wage_job_growth/
xiv
xv
Jeff Conrad, personal correspondence (Mar. 3, 2013).
ibid
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