Temporary jobs becoming a permanent fixture in US

Hiring is exploding in the one corner of the U.S. economy where few want to be hired: Temporary work.

From Wal-Mart to General Motors to PepsiCo, companies are increasingly turning to temps and to a much larger universe of freelancers, contract workers and consultants. Combined, these workers number nearly 17 million people who have only tenuous ties to the companies that pay them—about 12 percent of everyone with a job.

Hiring is always healthy for an economy. Yet the rise in temp and contract work shows that many employers aren't willing to hire for the long run. …

Driving the trend are lingering uncertainty about the economy and employers’ desire for more flexibility in matching their payrolls to their revenue. Some employers have also sought to sidestep the new health care law’s rule that they provide medical coverage for permanent workers. …

“It does not turn around without stable jobs that provide incomes which allow people to pay their bills and save for emergencies.”

You folks should be ok. It’s the group behind you with 3x as much debt and fewer assets (about half), that is going to be in trouble.

The money’s going to come from somewhere, and it’s going to come from us. They are going to try to bail out boomer debt, since that’s where the votes are.

Younger folks are hurt more since we’re less likely (statistically) to use or need Obamacare. It’s actually a huge benefit for the average boomer on up - since everyone pays the same and average costs for those 55+ are less than what they are paying.

I believe that's correct in general, JCBreckenridge, but your statement is predicated on the assumption boomers will actually receive the so-called "health care" that's been promised. I have a hunch it's likely the medical care will be doled out on a political basis, and grossly deficient in any event.

From the very beginning, so-called "Social Security" and its derivatives have been a pyramid scheme that penalizes younger people. I believe it's time to quit talking about it and rebel.

Ah yes, “temporary agencies” ... they deserve a special kind of affection.

I have worked as a temporary agency, prior to my retirement, from 1994 to 2008, with a short hiatus of working for the U.S. Census 2000, and working for almost 3 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I have worked for Manpower, Kelly Services, and a few more local agencies between Portland, Oregon and New Orleans, Louisiana.

I have also worked for agencies who receive grants, and their peculiar means of financial existence.

To the individual seeking full-time employment, newspapers are flooded with advertisements from these agencies, and even find themselves listed as ‘full time employment’ on state ‘works’ webpages.

They lie with their advertisements, just to build their ‘prospective employee base’, while those legitimately seeking work, are coupled to these agencies, requiring the job seeker to religiously call the agencies weekly, to testify that they ‘are able and ready to work’. They do not provide employment. Should the prospective employee and the temporary agency interviewer not have a good day of the month, (harrumph), you have just hit their black ball list.

I have witnessed this kraken spread their arms across the sea of job openings, and foul the pursuit of many a good job for qualified folks.

Lastly, should you be anywhere near the age of 45, you are not considered mentally pliable, and just might be on their lists, making the telephone calls, and just remaining in limbo, because of your age.

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