Temporary workers make up a high proportion of all employees in the U.S., and their total numbers continue to rise. Many speculate that the future of work will be centered around contingent labor.
Michael Schrage at The Harvard Business Review agrees. He writes that "ongoing global restructuring of markets makes temporary and/or part-time employment more attractive for more organizations." The technological capacities that many companies have make segmenting and streamlining tasks very easy. Small "tweaks" can save an enterprise quite a lot of money – and some replace the need for workers.
It is becoming more common for businesses to concentrate on a core 20 to 25 percent of employees, according to Schrage. The rest of the workforce may be contingent or part time, and their contributions are less vital to the direction of the company, though no less important on a day-to-day level.
Temporary and contract workers can expect that many more will soon join their ranks, simply because the job market makes hiring contingent labor so appealing. For those who enjoy controlling their own schedules and deciding where they would most like to work, contingent employment can be a great choice for employee and employer alike.
