Continuous decline in amount of hours worked in temp jobs

In the first quarter of 2013, the amount of hours worked in stage A temp jobs was nearly 1.5 percent down on the fourth quarter of 2012. The number of hours worked in temp jobs declined for the fourth consecutive quarter. The index (2010=100) for the number of hours worked in stage A reached 101.7 in the first quarter. The figures are adjusted for seasonal variation.

Stage A includes people working for temp agencies on a contract basis without regular terms of employment. In stage A, it is easier for both parties – temp job agencies and temp workers – to terminate the contract than in the subsequent stages B and C. The seasonally adjusted number of hours worked in stage B and C temp jobs was up by 1.5 percent in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of 2012. The total amount of hours worked in temp jobs declined by 0.3 percent.

Apart from the number of hours worked in temp jobs, other labour market indicators also deteriorated.  Unemployment has risen rapidly over the first five months of 2013. The number of jobs and the number of vacancies dropped further in the first quarter.

Hours worked in stage A temp jobs

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For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.