In the arena of U.S. labor and hiring, staffing recruiters and contract workers have never received rightful credit for the important role the collective plays in the revival of the U.S. economy. But with a little historical research, it’s easy to see the growing role staffing plays in keeping the economy moving in the right direction. Since the Great Recession of 2009, staffing recruiters continue to keep a sometimes-stagnant labor pool fresh with qualified and readily available contract workers.
Consumer Confidence
Evidence of this is visible in records from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing more than three million contract employees on payrolls at the end of 2016. Even with changes from several government mandates, contract workers will remain instrumental to continuing the slow, yet generally steady, rebound of the economy. In fact throughout the nation, employers will add close to 175,000 contract jobs over the next two years, according to research from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists, Intl.
Top Contract Positions (paying more than $15/hour)
- Computer Services Representatives
- Administrative Assistants
- Human Resource Specialists
- Construction Laborers
- Registered Nurses
- Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks
- Computer Support Specialists (IT)
- Machinists
- Software Developers
Relationship Building
As the collective confidence of the economy rebounds, workers have the luxury of looking for work that suits their unique skills and needs rather than accepting whatever is available. In a growing number of cases, individuals turn to staffing companies to “try out” a position or company before committing to work for an employer full-time. Increasingly, this arrangement is becoming more suitable to employers looking for qualified and professional workers on short notice.
Staffing recruiters play an important role in the relationship-building process between workers and clients. On the client side, employment recruiters become trusted partners in managing fluctuating staffing needs. On the candidate side, they have the ability to place workers in a well-vetted work situation. This creates a symbiotic workforce with the potential to be as effective and efficient as full-time in-house employees, creating a win-win situation for all.
Remaining Flexible
For both the client and the candidate, a staffing recruiter offers an element of flexibility. This occurs not only in the ability to make quick staffing decisions based on the unique needs of a particular client but also the ability to work with a candidate to find a workplace culture that complements an individual’s unique skills. This ability for quick adjustment will remain important with the continuing preference for part-time work from Millennials searching for work-life balance and Boomers who want or need to keep working beyond traditional retirement age.
Although permanent and full-time employment will continue to be a priority for both client and candidate, contract and contract-to-hire positions remain a great way for candidates to build critical skills and possibly gain attention from a desired employer.
This article is brought to you by Staffing Kansas City, a full-service Kansas City employment agency that provides contract-to-hire, direct hire and contract employment placement services.
