Temporary work now attractive option: Hays survey

PRESS RELEASE
13/02/2013

Temporary work now attractive option: Hays survey

Four out of five New Zealanders find temporary assignments an attractive option given the current global economic environment, according to a new survey by recruiting experts Hays.

Of the more than 290 New Zealanders who took part in a Hays online survey 83 per cent say that temporary assignments have become a more attractive option over recent years. 7 per cent say this kind of work is now less attractive to them, while 10 per cent report no change in their attitude towards temporary work.

“Contrary to popular belief temporary work is not limited to entry-level office support roles, professionals at all levels and various sectors are working on a temporary basis such as HR advisors, Finance Analysts, Quantity Surveyors and Engineers,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand.

“We are seeing employers engage temporary workers as a long-term solution to their staffing needs and candidates are making the most of this trend as there are many advantages for them.”

Here are just a few benefits for both employers and candidates when considering temporary assignments:

Candidates

Stretching skills
Temporary workers have the chance to advance their skills and career on their terms by choosing the employer and assignments they take on. They can also vary their tasks and workloads. Another Hays survey about temporary workers in Australia found 48.6 per cent of candidates like being able to gain more opportunities and skills, along with having variety in their workload (37.3 per cent).

Work/life balance
Temporary assignments can also lead to better work/life balance. Many people want or need greater flexibility in their working arrangements, due to family commitments for example, and consequently there is a candidate pool only interested in temporary assignments.

Earning potential
Some professionals, in the white collar end of the construction industry, for example, choose to work on a temporary basis because they have more earning potential due to the demand for their skills. Employer’s can afford to pay elevated rates for some temporary workers because they can save on other permanent staff benefits.

Employers

Expertise and engagement
Employers can hire particular expertise when needed for special projects. Organisations can experience fluctuations in their business activity for a variety of reasons, including seasonal periods, peak production times and unforeseen workloads. So, an added benefit of using temporary workers is that they can be engaged and released at short notice, which can help organisations address challenging times in their business schedules.

Support
Another bonus of using temporary workers is the support they can provide a business’ permanent workforce. Rather than continuously redistributing work between current permanent employees, which can reduce productivity, increase stress and may negatively impact on health and safety, temporary resources can instead support a permanent team and help productivity of a business.

Testing the talent
Many organisations use temporary workers on a trial basis to test their ability to do the job and assess their compatibility with the organisation. Businesses often want to make sure a potential employee will fit in with the company culture, have the necessary skills for the position, that they want to commit to the role and will enjoy it. This ‘try before you buy’ approach reduces the risks involved with any permanent hire, making temporary workers an attractive option for some employers.

Hays, the world’s leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people.

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