Fewer hours worked in temp jobs

The number of hours worked in temp jobs dropped by 3.0 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared to the preceding quarter. Adjusted for seasonal variation, the index figure (2000=100) for the number of hours worked in stage A temp reached nearly 122, as against more than 125 hours in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of 2008, the number of temp jobs in stage A was 1.4 percent up on the previous quarter.

The number of temp hours worked in stage A fell by 1.4 percent in the third quarter compared with the third quarter of 2007. It was the first decrease in more than 4 years. In the first six months of 2008, growth slowed down to just under 4 percent. In 2007, the number of hours worked in temp jobs grew by 10 percent, after an increase by nearly 20 percent in 2005 and 2006.

Stage A includes persons working for temp agencies on a contract basis without regular terms of employment. In stage A, it is easier for both parties - employer and employee - to terminate the work contract than in the subsequent stages B and C. The number of temp hours in stage B and C is still increasing. The total number of temp hours in the third quarter was lower than in the second quarter, but higher than in the third quarter of 2007.

Hours worked in stage A temp jobs