When people hear the word “temporary” in employment they think short-term, low-wage positions that are hard to fill or even that workers are not as motivated. Temporary may sound negative; it could suggest loss of time, money and resources if new employees don’t work out.
However, consider that you are hiring help available on varied schedules to add to your organization. You also control the length of term - a temporary position may be for a short period while other assignments could be months or even years.
Finding the right fit for your company is always be the most important outcome of hiring temporary workers.
The Pros and Cons of Hiring Temporary Employees
Every hiring decision comes with trade-offs. When considering temporary employees, you'll want to weigh both the advantages and potential drawbacks before making your decision.
The benefits of temporary staffing include reduced hiring costs, access to specialized skills, workforce flexibility, and the ability to "test drive" potential permanent employees. You can quickly scale your team without long-term commitments.
Temporary employees may require more initial training, could have less company loyalty, and might not be available for long-term projects. There's also the potential for higher turnover rates.
What Is an Advantage of Using Temporary Workers?
Now that we've covered the basics, let's dive deeper into the advantages. The benefits of temporary staffing extend far beyond simply filling open positions.
Working with a staffing firm allows for candidates to be matched with their ideal fit. It is also a way for employers to get a better idea of those in the job market and how they could be a potential fit in their organization.
If you don’t have time to recruit or search for employees on your own, working with a staffing company can alleviate those burdens and allow you to better focus on your primary tasks. This streamlined approach is one of the key benefits of temporary staffing.
Temporary Employees Bring Flexibility
The largest difference between temporary vs permanent employees is flexibility. Temporary positions offer flexible scheduling, while empowering workers to learn new trades and advance their careers.
When you hire a temp worker, you're not locked into long-term commitments. This makes it easier to scale your workforce up or down based on seasonal demands or project requirements.
Having flexibility works both ways. Temporary employees gain valuable experience across different industries and roles, while your company benefits from fresh perspectives and specialized expertise without the overhead costs of permanent hires.
Collaborating With Temporary Workers Happens More Than You Realize
Temporary workers are also much more common than you may think. In fact, roughly, 2.4 million temporary and contract employees worked for America’s staffing companies during an average week in 2024. Additionally, more than 80% of large corporations plan to increase their use of a flexible, or contingent, workforce.
These numbers reflect a fundamental shift in how businesses approach workforce management. Smart companies recognize that temporary workers provide access to specialized skills without long-term overhead commitments.
The benefits of temporary staffing extend beyond just filling gaps. Companies use temp workers to manage workload fluctuations, access niche expertise, reduce recruitment costs, and maintain operational flexibility.
Utilizing temporary workers allows flexibility and responsiveness and takes the stress out of searching for candidates. Whether you need seasonal support, project-based expertise, or want to evaluate potential permanent hires, temporary employees offer solutions that traditional hiring simply can't match.
6 Common Myths About Temporary Staffing
Despite the clear benefits of temporary staffing, misconceptions persist about temporary workers and their value to organizations. These outdated beliefs can prevent companies from accessing top talent and flexible workforce solutions.
From questioning skills and dedication to worrying about costs, many employers make decisions based on myths rather than facts. Let's separate fiction from reality and explore what temp workers actually bring to the table.
Temporary Workers Are Less Skilled
Often, temporary workers have highly specialized skills and are hired specifically for them. Companies will bring in skilled contingent labor to cover a special project like a software upgrade, database migration, or business reorganization.
Temporary Workers Can’t Find Permanent Positions
People often choose temporary employment to learn a new skill, try out a new industry, or gain more flexibility. Additionally, some highly skilled employees move from contract to contract to keep their skills sharp and their income high. According to an American Staffing Association survey, 40% of staffing employees work in higher-skilled occupations.
Temporary Workers Aren’t as Dedicated as Full-Time Employees
Temporary workers are just as committed to their work as permanent employees are. Regardless of temporary or permanent status, the complexity and foundations of work are the same.
You may actually find that temporary employees work harder than your full-time employees. This is because they are paid by the hour and may be, in essence, trying out for a full-time job at your company.
Temporary Workers Are More Expensive Than Full-Time Employees
Often, contingent labor is less expensive than direct hire, especially when you factor in onboarding, paid time off, taxes, retirement plans, and other benefits for temporary employees. Plus, you must factor in the cost of a bad hire and the cost to replace that person when they don’t work out.
Temporary Jobs Don’t Lead to Long-Term Careers or Come with Benefits
Some companies use temporary positions as a tryout period before offering a candidate a full-time role. The idea of “try before you buy” is oftentimes even more helpful to companies that decide to hire a worker permanently.
When companies bring on contingent labor for longer-term projects that may last a year or more, contractors are often given benefits for temporary employees. That may include perks such as time off and health insurance.
Temporary Workers Don't Integrate Well with Existing Teams
Many assume that temporary employees will disrupt team dynamics or struggle to fit into established company culture. However, temp workers are often highly adaptable professionals who excel at quickly integrating into new environments.
Because temporary workers frequently move between different companies and projects, they often develop strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. In fact, their fresh perspectives and varied experiences can enhance team performance and bring innovative solutions to existing challenges.
Transform Your Workforce Strategy with Temporary Employees
The evidence is clear. Temporary workers deliver real value through specialized skills, dedicated performance, and cost-effective solutions.
The benefits of temporary staffing offer proven advantages that millions of businesses rely on every day. Whether you need a temporary worker for a short-term project or temporary employees for ongoing workforce flexibility, this approach offers the agility modern companies need to thrive.
From debunking myths about temp worker dedication to showcasing the financial advantages, we've seen how temporary employees can enhance rather than compromise your operations. The key is partnering with a staffing company that understands your unique needs and connects you with qualified candidates.
That's where we come in. We are Nesco Resource. Founded in 1956, we're a nationally ranked staffing and workforce solutions company dedicated to transforming lives.
By connecting job seekers with opportunities that fit their skills, schedules, and goals, we help candidates find work and employers find top talent. From contingent labor and direct hire solutions to vendor-on-premises services and managed workforce programs, our goal is to deliver flexible, efficient, and strategic workforce solutions.
Contact Nesco Resource today to discuss your workforce needs today.
