Growth rate temp hours doubled

The growth rate of the number of hours worked in temp jobs doubled in the fourth quarter of 2006. After correction for seasonal effects, the index of the number of hours worked in stage A temp jobs in the fourth quarter was 117 (2000=100).This is a 5 percent increase on the third quarter. In the second and third quarter, the increase on the preceding quarter was about 2,5 percent. The number of hours worked in stage A temp jobs has been rising since the first quarter of 2004.

In 2004 the number of hours worked in temp jobs rose by 6 percent. The increase in 2005 and 2006 was substantially higher, with nearly 18 and just over 17 percent respectively.

Stage A includes temp workers working for temp agencies on a contract basis, without regular terms of employment. In stage A it is easy for both parties, employer and employee, to terminate the work contract, easier than in phases B and C.

Hours worked in temp jobs phase A