It used to be that if you did your job well, got along with your boss and co-workers, and worked for a profitable firm, you could expect to keep your job indefinitely. That is not the case today.
Many critics worry that temporary employment undermines job security and stability.
They foresee a growing number of nomadic workers continually moving from job to job, regularly facing the prospect of unemployment, and lacking secure salaries, benefits and pensions. Supporters view temporary employment as a pathway to market flexibility, allowing firms to tailor their workforces to meet fluctuations in labour requirements and to screen new recruits before offering them permanent positions. They also see temporary employment as a way for individuals to balance their paid work with other activities, and to become entrepreneurs selling specialized skills and expertise. This issue of Insight looks at the some of the report's findings. One recent survey found that two-thirds of corporate executives expect to use more temporary workers in their organizations over the next five years.