(Newswire.net — May 13, 2016) — Although the financial crisis of 2011 has passed, millions of American still struggle to find work and support their families in today’s inflated economy. As a result, a new trend has emerged in the workforce that, while an obvious step-up from unemployment, is the start of a cycle hard to escape: temporary employment.
Uncertain Security of Temporary Work
Seasonal jobs used to be a nice way to make a quick buck during the holidays or times of personal economic hardship, but now temporary employment is the new norm for millions. These full-time workers put in all the effort required to sustain a permanent career without any of the security that comes along with it like health insurance, sick days and vacations. Although temporary jobs can work well for those who have left their former positions in search of something greater, they have become a way of life for many older workers who can’t meet the excessive demands of today’s competitive job market.
A Rising Epidemic
In March of 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 28,500 jobs in the temporary industry with about 2.8 million workers. Since that figure accounts for about 2 percent of the entire nation’s workforce, it’s safe to say that temporary jobs are no longer a means to an end, but rather an endless commitment with little long-term payoff.
Many companies use temp workers to avoid paying large taxes and other fees associated with running a business. A temp agency makes all its money placing employees as contractors with companies. Although they perform the same duties as their full-time, salaried peers, temp workers are only compensated low hourly wages that leave them unable to truly advance personally and professionally.
The Upside of Temp Work
Since 2011, there has been a steady increase in the number of independent contractors throughout the United States. For those who are able to secure clients and provide a sought-after service like design or programming, the flexibility and freedom working independently provides is incredible.
Working mothers, 20-somethings with a travel bug and plenty of other diligent workers have started earning their income on their own and many will insist that the freedom in being your own boss greatly outweighs any of the cons tied to freelancing.
Unfortunately, for many temporary workers, the industries they’re employed in do not offer the type of compensation that skilled contractors are able to secure for themselves. A total of 40 percent of the temporary job market in the US is in manual labor, which means that the majority of these temporary employees are spending their time doing expandable work for low rates.
The Future for Temporary Jobs
It’s hard to say whether or not things will improve as more Americans take on temporary work. However, raising awareness about the type of low wages that many are settling for is one way to help ensure no one is cheated out of a fair salary. The main reason why people should strive for so much more than a temporary job is that if they stay in such a position, they place themselves in a constant cycle of self-doubt and insecurity. They lose any chance to progress to the top of their field despite how qualified they are. They also miss out on the basic work privileges that every human being needs like health insurance and paid time off.
America’s shift to temporary work can be chalked up to business’ desire to outsource and save money and the unemployed population’s desperate fight to simply survive. One can only hope that as time goes on and more people begin to rely on temporary jobs, changes will be made to the system that allow these individuals to earn a sustainable income during their search for a permanent career.
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