However, other changes that emerged in our interviews are more speculative because it is impossible to estimate their magnitude. With this important caveat, we describe several of these potential trends because they may affect the way sub-baccalaureate labor markets operate. Several of them are worrisome because they are detrimental to the individuals trying to gain access to this particular segment of employment, and they suggest the need for intervention into the ways employment is structured. Many firms are making greater use of temporary help agencies. Several general respondents commented on this trend, especially in Palmdale where the use of temporary workers is especially high.
Some firms hire substantial fractions of their employees as temporary workers.
In this case, the temporary agency has taken over all personnel functions for the firm, at least for particular kinds of workers, including electronics assemblers and secretarial and clerical occupations. Not only do firms use temporary help as moderately skilled workers such as retail workers, operatives in light industry, and secretaries and clerical workers, but there is a trend to hire more highly skilled workers in this way. The practice of hiring temporary workers at lower levels of the occupational structure and the practice of using consultants at the upper levels appear quite similar despite the difference in the status of consultants. The use of such temporary workers has several advantages to the firm. Most obviously, it reduces the benefits employers must pay.