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The Fastest-Growing Temp Jobs

This article is more than 9 years old.

Temporary employment has long been viewed as an interim measure for employees who find themselves looking to rejoin the workforce after a lay-off or other departure.

But as the economy continues a slow march towards recovery, temp roles are becoming increasingly attractive opportunities for workers to regain permanent staff positions in their industry, or explore a career in an area where they may not yet have professional experience.

"Growth in temporary employment is typically an indicator that more permanent jobs are coming down the road," says Eric Gilpin, President of CareerBuilder's Staffing & Recruiting Group. "Growth in temporary employment has accelerated post-recession, but we see this coupled with growth in permanent jobs too.   2013 was a better year for the job market than 2012; 2014 will be a better year than 2013.  We’ll continue to see steady growth in both temporary and permanent jobs in various industries, functions and locations."

To create this ranking of the Fastest-Growing Temp Jobs in the U.S. for 2014, CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) pulled information from the EMSI labor market database, which includes data from more than 90 national and state labor resources as well as research on both employees and the self-employed. According to this data, upwards of 2.9 million U.S. workers held temporary jobs in 2013, a 28 % increase since 2010.

Gilpin defines temporary employment as "a situation where an employee works for an organization for a designated period of time" and says that time period can be weeks, months, or longer.

A separate study conducted by Career Builder and Harris Poll found that 42% of employers reported plans to hire temporary or contract workers in 2014, up from 40% the previous year, and of those employers 43% planned to transition some temp workers into permanent staff positions.

All of which is good news for job-seekers, as the temporary-to-permanent conversion rate is decidedly on the rise as companies continue to bounce back from the leaner post-recession years. Sherry Dixon, Senior Vice President with Adecco Staffing, says many companies are taking on temporary employees as a cautious way of gauging whether customer demand will sustain a return to pre-recession staff headcounts.

"We’re seeing more jobs transition from true temporary positions into more full-time roles," says Dixon. "Companies are really starting to invest in their own full-time workforce. They’re starting to test the waters again, and the best way to do that is through a temporary workforce."

In pictures: Top U.S. Cities For Temp Jobs 2014

The list of occupations presented here are based on projected growth rates for temporary jobs paying in the middle- and high-wage range for 2014. Topping the list are Human Resources Specialists, Customer Service Representatives, and Construction Laborers, with occupations including Administrative Assistants, Registered Nurses, Machinists, and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers following close behind.

So what can individuals on the job hunt do to capitalize on this trend? Marcie Wechsler, Executive Director of the Temporary Division of Atrium Staffing, says to emphasize quality over quantity. She stresses the importance of working with staffing agencies focused on the industry or type of job candidates are seeking.

“The most important thing is aligning yourself with a firm that really understands what you’re comfortable with. A lot of people are registering with a million and one agencies—they need to be asking, ‘Why am I connecting with this recruiter?’”

Beyond those looking to rejoin occupations from which they may have been laid-off, Gilpin highlights temporary employment as a way to facilitate a career change.

"Post-recession, many workers have had to reinvent their careers because employment levels in their industries have not fully recovered," says Gilpin. "Taking on temporary assignments is a great way to facilitate that process and build up your resume, and many staffing firms offer free online training for job candidates who want to sharpen their skills."

And for many, temporary work isn't simply a means--it can also be the end goal.

"Many people build successful careers as temporary workers and don’t pursue permanent placement," says Gilpin.  "They like the flexibility, and they like having a variety of work experiences.  Some workers  prefer assignments within their wheelhouse.  Others like to try out new functions.  Either way, you get exposure to different learning opportunities."

The Fastest-Growing Temp Jobs 2014

Human Resources Specialists

Recruit, interview, and place workers in positions.*

People employed: 64,049

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 2, 407 - 4% growth

Median earnings per hour: $26.83

Customer Service Representatives

Offer information about a company's products and process customer complaints and orders.

People employed: 93, 041

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 2, 826 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $14.70

Construction Laborers

Perform physical labor-based tasks on construction sites.

People employed: 75,183

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 2,269 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $14.42

Administrative Assistants

Perform clerical and administrative duties and support office staff.

People employed: 71,573

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 2,175 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $15.58

Registered Nurses

Facilitate patient care and provide patients, public, and family members with health information and support.

People employed: 58,000

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 1,767 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $31.48

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Complete financial reporting processes for organizations and review accuracy. 

People employed: 30,257

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 931 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $16.91

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

Repair and maintain machine, mechanical, and building equipment with a particular focus on plumbing, electrical, a/c and heating systems.

People employed: 30,183

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 923 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $16.93

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Review products for defects and deviations.

People employed: 28,178

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 873 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $16.57

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Transport goods between locations, often in excess of 26,000 pounds.

People employed: 24,527

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 767 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $18.37

Machinists

Operate machinery to produce precision metal parts and instruments.

People employed: 23,182

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 722 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $18.99

Sales Representatives, Services, All Other

Sell goods and services to businesses and consumers.

People employed: 22,984

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 684 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $24.45

Computer User Support Specialists

Provide support and assistance to individuals and organizations using computer hardware and software. 

People employed: 17, 895

Jobs added 2013 - 2014: 544 - 3% growth

Median earnings per hour: $22.32

*Job descriptions based on information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Follow me on Twitter @KathrynDill.