Temporary and Part-Time Employment Increases Dramatically

The country’s economic recovery is particularly beneficial for Boomers and older job seekers looking for employment, as estimates suggest that contingent (other than full-time) labor could increase its penetration from the 13% of employees several years ago to over 40% in 2014.

 “This is good news for boomers, older job seekers and retirees, as this demographic is often more likely to be hired on a part-time, temporary or project assignment basis,” said Art Koff, founder of www.RetiredBrains.com, a job and information service for Americans 45 and older.

“Many older workers do not require the company benefits of full-time employment,” said Koff. “They are often in a better position than their younger counterparts who must receive company benefits for themselves and their families.”

Depending on the hours worked, the length of the assignment and other factors, employers can save on contingency labor by avoiding having to pay company benefits. It is also a great deal easier and substantially less expensive to off-board contingency workers than full-time employees. And employers with a departmental or companywide hiring freeze can hire temporary employees from a different budget, thereby avoiding hiring freeze limitations altogether.

The number of Americans working part-time or temporary jobs for economic reasons (many because they are unable to find full-time jobs) more than doubled in 2013. It’s a trend that sees America catching up Europe, where employers use a much higher percentage of temporary and part-time workers than in the U.S.

According to a Workforce Management article by Irwin Speizer quoting a study, "73% of responding employers are planning to increase their use of contingent labor."

While jobs are still tough to find, there are ways for boomers, older workers and even retirees looking for work to maximize the opportunity. The key is knowing where to look and what to do to improve your chances of being hired once an opening is located. “Temporary employment and freelancing are two of the few sectors of the labor market that are growing rapidly and should be explored by all job seekers, regardless of age or the type of position that’s sought,” Koff said.

”Don't assume because you are an executive, a professional or in management that temporary jobs or project assignments are not for you,” Koff pointed out.

In 2013, firms like Kelly Services, Aerotek, Adecco and Manpower placed many thousands – including company presidents, lawyers, controllers, sales managers and senior level managers – in assignments that paid anywhere from $80,000 to several hundred thousand dollars a year. Boomers and older job seekers who have the skills and experience can often find project assignments and earn more than if they worked for a single company. These types of jobs usually provide no health insurance, sick days, vacation, retirement benefits, severance, access to unemployment insurance or stock options for top-level executives, all of which makes them a particularly good fit for many older job seekers who are more able to accept temporary or “retirement jobs” without benefits.

The web site Koff founded in 2003 now includes a job board that specifically targets temporary, part-time and project based jobs and seasonal employment.  www.tempandparttimejobs.com/ offers links to thousands of employment opportunities and “retirement jobs” for boomers, older job seekers and retirees. Jobs can be searched by job title, areas of experience and geographic preference The site includes seasonal jobs and jobs with both private and public companies as well as government.

Koff is a nationally recognized expert who often speaks on the issues and challenges that face boomers, retirees and people planning their retirement. He has appeared on NBC and been quoted in Business Week, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine and many other major publications.

Art Koff
Founder