According to the American Staffing Association, staffing for temporary and contract employment in May was up 7 percent over the same period last year, the Press Democrat reports.
What's more, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Fordyce Letter reports that there are currently 2,491 million temp workers in America – an 8.5 percent increase over May 2011.
However, nationally, employers only created 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in the past year, while unemployment rose 0.1 percent to 8.2 percent from last month.
Yet, with warmer months ahead, more temporary positions will open up, creating opportunities for full-time positions. The Press Democrat notes that companies in the wine industry, tourism and professional services should all see an increase in temp hires, since the summer weather creates a greater volume of customers in these fields.
And more temp work is good for the economy.
"It's usually the first sign [of a recovering economy]," Ben Stone, executive director at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, tells the news source. "It's a first step back. It's a stepping stone toward hiring a permanent person."
