With tens of millions of people out of work, temporary jobs may return to the marketplace sooner than permanent positions, as they did after the last recession, according to research from PeopleReady, the blue-collar staffing division of TrueBlue Inc. (NYSE: TBI).
Its survey released today found temporary jobs are becoming crucial for 72% of workers looking to make ends meet. More than half of those who have taken on temporary jobs in the last few months report they’ve been affected by job loss due to Covid-19, and 60% worry they won’t be able to find a full-time, permanent job this year.
And social distancing is impacting how they connect to those jobs, as more than 70% report using apps to find temporary work.
“People who have lost their jobs are facing an unprecedented set of circumstances as they look to rejoin the workforce. There are temporary jobs available now, and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to find work that can help during difficult financial times,” said Taryn Owen, president of PeopleReady. “Apps are clearly playing a crucial role in connecting companies in need of flexible workforces with the people looking for immediate opportunities to provide income for their households.”
The survey was conducted online by PeopleReady between April 21 and April 27. It included 3,276 workers across regions, industries and company sizes.