Temp Workers Thrive in South Bay, Struggle in SF
Temporary workers have grown both in numbers and importance over the past couple of decades, and now, temp work is considered a leading economic indicator.
Temporary jobs are on the rise in Silicon Valley, but flat in San Francisco. Meanwhile, nationally the number of temps has grown since October of 2009.
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Supervisory Economist with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Amar Mann shared research into the three recessions of the past 20 years at a conference Wednesday, showing temp work has lead the market in times of decline and recovery.
"Temp workers have grown greatly in numbers and in importance over the past couple of decades," said Mann.
And temp work doesn't just mean "Kelly Girl" anymore. BLS regional commissioner Richard Holden says there has been an occupational shift.
"Often, changes in temp employment preceed changes in the broader job market," said Holden. "We are now filling production, business and financial jobs, as well as computer and mathematical, health care, practitioners and practical jobs, a number of which are higher skill jobs."
Temp workers seem to collect lower paychecks than regular employees, and absorb the brunt of firings when the economy declines.
