For this reason, many are turning to contingent or contract workers to supplement their staff.
Contingent workers offer the benefit of flexibility without long-term commitments.
Employers know that if business lags or times get tough, they can sever the relationship without the fuss or guilt normally associated with downsizing. Using contingent workers gives an organization the ability to react quickly and efficiently when conditions change. In a recent survey conducted by Business and Legal Reports, more than 90 percent of the 1,110 respondents said that contingent workers were part of their staffing mix, a 50 percent increase from five years ago. Almost 60 percent indicated that they expected to use increasing numbers of contingent employees across the next five years. The number of workers hired by temporary and leasing agencies has expanded most rapidly, doubling in the past 10 years and quintupling since 1982, according to BLS findings.