Temporary hiring is a growing trend, and it's not hard to see why. While employers are reducing their full-time hiring, the need for temporary talent is only increasing. Last year, only 26 percent of employers planned to hire full-time talent, while this year, the number has shrunk further to 24 percent.
Yet 42 percent of employers are considering temporary talent. So it should come as little surprise that temporary staffing utilization was up eight percent in 2013 and expected to rise.
Why is temp talent on the rise? Let's take a look at a few reasons why you might want to join nearly half of all employers, and some tips on how to efficiently hire your next temp superstar:
A Good Way to Find Full-Time Talent
A compelling reason to take advantage of temporary talent is to use the "try before you buy" method. In fact, 43 percent of employers plan to bring at least some of their temporary workers on as full-time employees. By using temporary workers, you can try candidates out in your office setting before making a full and long-lasting commitment.
It's not hard to see why this would appeal to employers. After all, surveys have found a single bad hire can set companies back by as much as $50,000. Using temporary employment as a trial period is a good way to make sure the talent you need is right for the organization before offering a permanent position.
Nurturing the Skills You Need
Jumping the skills gap is another great reason to consider hiring temporary talent. After all, plenty of employers have open positions they just cannot fill because of the difficulty finding candidates with the right skills for the job. While it might be tough to find the perfect candidates, hiring temporary employees can mean nurturing skills in the right talent.
In a survey of those who had obtained temporary employment, 65 percent said they'd developed new or improved work skills through their assignments. While the skills gap might still be large, temporary talent can help you build a bridge by providing on-the-job training.
Shortening Onboarding
The onboarding process can be cumbersome, inefficient, and just plain annoying. By utilizing temporary workers, you can cut down on the traditional onboarding process and get new employees up and running in your company in a snap. Since employees have experience in your office, the onboarding process is immediately shortened.
You don't need to explain how things are done at your organization if the employee has already spent time as part of your team. This means you can instead focus on achieving goals and developing skills, instead of wasting time onboarding brand new hires.
Use New Tech To Find Temp Superstars
So how do you find temporary talent with more speed and efficiency? New tech tools are leading the way. Here are just a few ways you can find the temporary talent you need:
- Social Media: Social media can be a great tool to fill up your talent pipelines and target specific markets. For instance, Twitter hashtags and chats can help you get your jobs in front of industry-specific individuals. And Facebook allows you to geo-target your posts, helping you focus on the talent in your company's backyard.
Try before you buy can be a smart way to find talent with the skills and ability to fit into your organization and stick with your company for years to come. The temporary hiring revolution is here, and it might be time for your company to jump aboard.
What do you think? Are you hiring more temporary workers? Share in the comments!