by Mary Younggren

 Whether you want a temporary job or a permanent position, working for a staffing company is a great career move. America's staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs. Every day, 2.9 million people are on assignment with staffing companies. In 2006, an estimated 4.4 million staffing employees went on to permanent jobs.

There are three main types of job placements in the staffing industry:
• Temporary or contract, where you work for a staffing firm's client on an interim basis
• Temp-to-perm or temp-to-hire, where you work for a staffing firm's client on a trial basis to determine if the job is a good fit for your skills, interests, and career goals—if so, you become the client's employee
• Direct hire or permanent, where you are recruited by the staffing firm and then hired by its client

`You can work in virtually any occupation with a staffing company. The staffing industry is no longer personified by the temporary file clerk you see in the break room or the college student brought on board to transport boxes to the new office space. Today's staffing employees include truck drivers, accountants, day laborers, scientists, computer programmers, nurses, call center operators—even CEOs.

According to the American Staffing Association (ASA), staffing companies in Minnesota employed 183, 448 people for temporary or contract work in 2007 and of that number, 63,279 employees bridged to permanent jobs.

Here are some additional reasons the ASA says a staffing company might be perfect for you.

Jobs
We're the jobs people. Staffing companies match millions of people to millions of jobs.
• 2.66 million people per day are employed by staffing companies.
• 11.2 million temporary and contract employees are hired by U.S. staffing firms over the course of a year.
• 79% of temporary and contract employees work full time, virtually the same as the rest of the work force.

Flexibility
The staffing industry offers flexibility to both employees and companies. People can choose when, where, and how they want to work. Companies can get the skills they need to keep fully staffed during busy times.
• 66% of temporary employees say flexible work time is important to them.
• 64% of staffing employees report that their work gives them the scheduling flexibility and the time for family that they desire.
• 90% of client businesses say staffing companies give them flexibility to keep fully staffed during busy times.

Bridge
Temporary and contract work provides a bridge to permanent employment. People can try out a prospective employer and showcase their skills for a permanent job.
• 88% of staffing employees say that temporary or contract work made them more employable.
• 77% of staffing employees say it's a good way to obtain a permanent job.
• 80% of staffing clients say staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become permanent employees.

Choice
Many people choose temporary and contract work as an employment option. They can select their work schedules and choose among a variety of diverse and challenging assignments.
• 67% of staffing employees say choice of assignments was an important factor in their job decision.
• 23% of staffing employees have little or no interest in a permanent job—they prefer the alternative arrangement over traditional employment.
• 33% of staffing employees say they work for a staffing company because they like the diversity and challenge of different jobs.

Training
The staffing industry provides free training for millions of temporary and contract employees to help meet today's demand for skilled workers.
• 90% of staffing companies provide free training to their temporary and contract employees.
• 65% of staffing employees say they developed new or improved work skills through their assignments.
• 40% of staffing employees say they choose temporary or contract work as a way to obtain employment experience or job training.
Sources: American Staffing Association, the Conference Board, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mary Younggren is the president of the MN Recruiting and Staffing Association (MNRSA) as well as the owner and president of Tempforce based in Edina.