Employment growth in the temporary help industry.

Few industries have grown faster in recent years than the temporary help supply industry . Although still small in overall terms, with 735,000 workers representing less than one percent of total wage and salary employment in nonagricultural establishments in December 1985, the industry almost doubled in employment size in the 3 years since the trough of the recession in 1982 and accounted for 3 percent of the total job growth . Indications are that rapid growth of employment in the industry will continue through the mid1990's . As part of an ongoing Bureau of Labor Statistics study of the service-sector portion of the economy, this article documents the job gains recently experienced in the industry, and discusses reasons for the increase in demand for temporary workers and factors leading to the growth in supply of workers for temporary jobs . It also discusses differences in the occupational segments of the temporary help market . The article primarily uses data from the Current Employment Statistics survey and data from reports covered by unemployment insurance programs .' It also is based on information obtained through interviews with temporary help supply firms and their customers.