Finding Success in the Current Job Market

We’ve entered a beautiful time of year! The weather is changing nicely, bringing abundant blooms in gardens far and wide. Also changing are the macro-economic trends that are impacting the overall job market and contingent workforce.

Amidst substantial economic shifts, the job market and demand for temporary workers continue fluctuating. Despite a recent slowdown in the economy, business activity is resilient. Evolving conditions, including high inflation and interest rates, continue prompting organizations to increase their agility by integrating a contingent workforce into their hiring strategies. Also referred to as temporary, contract, gig or project-based work, this mainstream type of work offers a career boost for professionals who pursue these opportunities. An understanding of this way of working is key to finding success in this sector.

Understanding the Staffing Industry

With continued moderate growth, the overall job market remains stable and strong. To date, we’ve seen over 807,000 jobs gained this year. Additionally, the ratio of available jobs to unemployed persons is 1.3 to 1. Due to projected growth and a variety of opportunities, jobs within the staffing industry are poised to continue increasing in prominence.

We saw dramatic workforce shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those big changes was a surge of 2.1 million new workers who entered the gig economy in 2020; this was double the number of new temporary workers hired in 2019. In total, the staffing industry hired 14.6 million and 12.7 million workers in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Following above average years, the contingent workforce is returning to a steady balance.

The series of layoff announcements over the past six months, created a cascading downward effect on demand for contingent work. However, sector-specific gains are expected this year in numerous staffing categories, including marketing and life sciences.

Contingent Workforce Considerations

The contingent workforce is predicted to grow by 3% in 2025. Job fields expected to see more demand include a 2% increase in office/clerical work opportunities. Climate adaptation continues creating a need for workers globally, including temporary workers. The renewable energy sector is projected to create over 75% more jobs through 2030. Worldwide, staffing firms experienced strong demand for jobs in this area since 2019 and the momentum is expected to continue.

Contingent work remains a viable option for individuals, either to reenter the workforce or to level up their careers. By identifying a career direction and understanding its advantages, professionals can better position themselves to find success in this flourishing area of work.

Finding Success in the Gig Economy

Through contingent work, opportunities are abundant for professionals and job seekers of all experience levels. This viable way of working provides many advantages for individuals, whether they’re new to the gig economy or they’ve pursued temporary jobs before.

Having connections with staffing recruiters helps professionals more efficiently navigate today’s fast-paced job market. Additionally, recruiters bridge gaps for job seekers to connect them with job opportunities that best suit them.

Professionals open to exploring jobs within the staffing industry are encouraged to consider the career field, job type and what can be learned to ensure there’s alignment with short- and long-term career goals.

The potential to capitalize on the growth and opportunities gig work provides should be motivators for professionals. The future of contingent work is bright! This way of working has much to offer professionals of all industries and experience levels. There are countless success stories of professionals achieving great career growth and opportunities after entering the contingent workforce. Job seekers are encouraged to keep temporary work opportunities front of mind during their next job search. A career is like a garden, when cultivated, it is more likely to bloom and grow.

➡️ Have you pursued a contingent work job opportunity? If you haven’t ventured into the gig economy yet, do you plan to do so in the future? Share your experiences or thoughts in a comment below.

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