New Report Shows Temp-to-Perm Hirings on the Rise

It seems as if it were just yesterday (in fact, it was just yesterday), that I touched on the concept of a "jobless recovery." In a nutshell, a jobless economic recovery is when growth in the Gross Domestic Product occurs, but without a significant decline in unemployment.

One of the factors causing economic analysts to speak about a jobless recovery have been reports that the rate at which temporary employees are transitioning into permanent hires continues to be extremely low. Whereas approximately 33 percent of temporary workers are made full-time in a normal economy, the temp-to-perm conversation rate during this recession has been at or below 10 percent, according to some reports. An article this week however suggests that a rise in the full-time hiring of temporary workers may be taking place.

According to USA Today, multiple staffing firms are reporting an increase in permanent hiring. In the article, Employco Group President Rob Wilson said about 30 percent of the firm's Carlisle Staffing unit have become permanent hires, while Adecco North America CEO Tig Gilliam estimated a 50 percent rise recently in its temporary placements who go full time. Overall, USA Today reported that about half the firms surveyed by the Society for Human Resource Management are "boosting hiring in March, the most in about two years."