10 Growing Industries for Temporary Workers

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Sometimes the road to getting a full-time job requires a brief stop at a temporary position first. While getting that temp job may seem like a detour in your long-term plans, new research has found that may not be the case. 

That's because 40 percent of employers plan to hire temporary or contract workers this year, up from 36 percent last year.  However, those employers are not looking to just fill a temporary need with those workers.  Forty-two percent of employers say they plan to transition temporary workers into a full-time role.

"More companies are turning to temporary and contract workers to meet evolving market demands and quickly scale up their businesses," said Eric Gilpin, president of CareerBuilder's staffing and recruiting group, who conducted the research with Economic Modeling Specialists. "For job seekers, it's a great way to build relationships with employers and expand your résumé, and is often an inroad into permanent placement within firms.

 However, some industries are growing at a faster rate than others. Here are 10 of the fastest-growing industries for temporary workers in 2013: 

• Team assemblers — Workers who help to assemble parts or a product are expected to see continued growth in 2013.
  • Number of people employed:  128,096
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  21,529 — 20 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $13.25
• Office clerks — Clerks are responsible for administrative tasks such as typing, filing and answering phones among other things
  • Number of people employed:  132,264
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  21,219 — 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $13.18
• Customer service representatives — Workers provide information to customers and handle complaints.
  • Number of people employed:  76,445
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  12,334 – 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $14.90
• Human resources, training and labor relations specialists — These workers perform various human resource functions at the office.
  • Number of people employed:  59,597
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  11,893 – 25 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $26.44
• Registered nurses — Nurses provide patient care, advice and support to patients.
  • Number of people employed:  66,844
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  8,766 – 15 percent growth  
  • Median hourly wage:  $32.10
• Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants — These workers provide basic care to patients in hospitals and in long-term care facilities.
  • Number of people employed:  31,975
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  5,155 – 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $11.91
• Home health aides — Aides monitor health status and assist with routine care treatments.
  • Number of people employed:  27,308
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  4,786 – 21 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $9.96
• Maintenance and repair workers — These workers maintain and repair machines, equipment and buildings.
  • Number of people employed:  24,238
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  3,917 – 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $16.94
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
  • Number of people employed:  22,701
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  3,700 – 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $17.96
• Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers — Workers check products for any defects.
  • Number of people employed:  21,458
  • Jobs added from 2010 to 2012:  3,414 – 19 percent growth
  • Median hourly wage:  $16.63

The list was composed from EMSI's labor market database.  The data was based on more than 90 national and state employment resources taking into account data about employees and self-employed workers.

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