PR Newswire | Harris Interactive February 7 2011 10:38:09 AM
As Labor Market Remains Weak, Temp Jobs Seen as Likely Path to Permanent Hire
More than half of U.S. adults (54%) agree that finding a temporary job is the best option following a layoff, according to a new online survey commissioned by EmploymentGroup, a Midwest staffing and contracted services firm, and conducted by Harris Interactive. The poll coincides with the latest Labor Department payrolls data that show U.S. employment rose far less than expected in January, suggesting continued weakness in the job market.
The survey, which aimed to quantify the appeal of several frequently cited options available to unemployed workers, found that pursuing a temp job (defined as a transitional job held while looking for permanent employment) is preferred by a wide margin to going back to school to learn a new skill or profession (21%), waiting for the right opportunity while receiving unemployment assistance (11%), starting a new business (5%), or something else (8%).
The survey also examined the perceived value of temporary employment. A majority of adults (70%) say that landing a temp job often leads to a permanent position, and 74% agree that it adds value to a resume – an opinion voiced most strongly by unemployed (78%) and retired (85%) workers. The online survey of 2,026 adults, aged 18 and over, was conducted in January 2011.