Temporary help agency workers

In February 2005, there were about 1.2 million temporary help agency workers, accounting for 0.9 percent of all employment.

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These workers were more likely than traditional workers to be women and young. Fifty-three percent of temporary help agency workers were women, compared with about 48 percent of traditional workers. Nearly half of temporary help agency workers were under the age of 35 compared with only 36 percent of workers in traditional arrangements.

Temporary help agency employees were much more likely than workers with traditional arrangements to be black (23 versus 11 percent) and Hispanic or Latino (21 versus 13 percent). Seventeen percent of temporary help agency workers ages 25 to 64 years old had less than a high school diploma, compared with 9 percent of workers in traditional arrangements.

In terms of occupation, temporary help agency workers were more likely than traditional workers to hold office and administrative support and production, transportation, and material moving jobs. Compared with traditional workers, temporary help agency workers were more frequently employed in the manufacturing and professional and business services industries.

These data are from a supplement to the February 2005 Current Population Survey. To find out more, see Contingent and Alternative Employment Arrangements, February 2005, news release USDL 05-1433.