As 2013 comes to an end, companies are beginning to make staffing plans for the new year. It seems that many are putting significantly less emphasis on bringing in new full-time workers ─ instead opting to hire temporary staff.

Fox Business recently reported that employers are increasing their reliance on contract workers and freelancers. Recent monthly job reports from the Labor Department reveal a rising trend of employers focusing more on filling short-term needs than hiring full-time workers.

In fact, mid and large-sized companies are currently hiring freelance talent at a record-breaking pace. The study, “The Future of Work,” commissioned by Elance and conducted by Tower Lane Consulting, found that 60 percent of companies plan to increase their pool of freelance talent in 2014. Major factors supporting this move include a need for just-in-time hiring, temporary experts, and the virtual reality of remote workers.

Companies aren’t just bringing freelance talent in to fill low-to-mid-level positions. Accenture’s 2013 “Rise of The Extended Workforce,” reveals that “even top-level managers and executive teams are being replaced by temporary CEOs, CFOs, COOs and other highly skilled troubleshooters.”

The Accenture report notes that the leading jobs for freelancers include ─ sales and marketing, IT and programming, design and multimedia, engineering and manufacturing, and writing and translation.

Advantages of the Contingent Workforce
The Harvard Business Review notes three key advantages that contract workers bring to companies, including:

• Cost Flexibility.
  Companies can benefit by hiring staff based on as-needed business requirements and by having the ability to pay workers to perform specific tasks on a project basis.
• Speed and Agility.
  The need for different types of talent is constantly changing and hiring contract workers makes it easy for companies keep up with the latest industry trends. Organizations can quickly and easily hire workers with the right skill-sets, without incurring long-term costs or a major disruption to the company.
• A Boost to Innovation.
  Contract workers are able to bring new knowledge and ideas to a company, which can serve to teach and inspire full-time workers.

ECS offers solutions to clients and recruiters seeking cost-effective management and deployment of their contract labor workforce. We help companies optimize and simplify the process of hiring contract employees, in an efficient and compliant environment.

Want to learn more about the benefits ECS can offer your business today? Contact us for more information.