2015-06-30-美国商务部-Temporary_Help_Workers_in_the_U.S._Labor_Market_12页_811kb

Summary of Temporary Help Workers in the U.S. Labor Market

Core Content

The temporary help services industry in the United States has played a significant role in the labor market, with employment reaching an all-time high of 2.9 million jobs in May 2015, accounting for 2.4 percent of all private sector jobs. This report provides an overview of the industry's characteristics, including its demographic composition, wage levels, geographic distribution, and its function as a leading indicator of economic conditions.

Main Points

Role in the Labor Market

• The temporary help services industry is a leading indicator of employment and fluctuates with the business cycle, often declining before a recession and rebounding faster than overall employment.
• Temporary workers are often the first to be laid off during economic downturns and the first to be hired during recovery periods.

Demographic Characteristics

• Temporary help workers tend to be younger and more likely to be female than the average worker.
• They are less likely to have advanced degrees and are less likely to have private health insurance.
• A significant portion of temporary workers (two-thirds) are in transportation and material moving, production, and office and administrative support occupations.

Wage and Compensation

• Temporary workers generally earn lower hourly wages than their directly-hired counterparts in the same occupation.
• The total hourly compensation for temporary workers is lower due to the lack of benefits such as paid leave and health insurance.
• In some highly skilled occupations, temporary workers may earn higher or equal wages, especially when they require customer contact or specialized skills.

Geographic Distribution

• Temporary help jobs are concentrated in the middle and Southeastern states, such as Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia, where they account for more than 3% of private sector employment.
• In contrast, states like Alaska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, and Montana have less than 1% of their employment in the temporary help industry.

Industry Use of Temporary Help

• Industries that use temporary help include telecommunications, pipeline transportation, utilities, warehousing, and manufacturing, particularly in oil and gas extraction, chemical manufacturing, and transportation equipment.
• The temporary help industry accounts for a large share of the employment services sector, growing from 68% in 2000 to 81% in 2014.

Economic Impact

• The temporary help industry has absorbed a significant portion of job losses during recessions, such as the 2008-09 recession, where it accounted for 11% of all private sector job losses.
• It has also contributed to job gains during recovery, with 10% of all private sector jobs added from 2009 to 2015.

Key Information

• Temporary workers offer flexibility and cost savings for firms, avoiding long-term commitments and benefits costs.
• Bill rates charged by temporary help agencies include administrative costs, which are not reflected in wage data.
• Non-standard work arrangements, such as on-call, contract, and part-time positions, are also common and increase labor market flexibility.
• The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that non-standard work arrangements account for 5–40% of U.S. jobs, depending on the definition.
• These arrangements are linked to lower job stability and increased reliance on social services, and may contribute to income inequality.

Conclusion

The temporary help services industry is a key component of the U.S. labor market, offering flexibility for both employers and workers. It is strongly tied to the business cycle, serving as a leading indicator of economic downturns and recoveries. While temporary workers are primarily used in production and transport sectors, they also fill roles in office and administrative support. Despite their importance, the role of temporary help workers remains underrepresented in official statistics, and the broader use of non-standard work arrangements is still not fully understood.