Adecco Survey Exposes Perceptions and Misperceptions About Temporary Employment.

Business Editors

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 31, 2002

Adecco (NYSE:ADO), the world's largest staffing company, today announced the results of a survey conducted to discover how Americans view temporary workers and the temporary employment lifestyle. At a time when some signs are pointing to an economic recovery and many companies are hiring temporary employees as a first step toward bringing back full-time employees, it is interesting to note that Americans have a number of misperceptions about temporary employment.

Interviews with 1,026 people revealed that 98 percent of respondents underestimated the extent to which US companies use temporary employees supplied by staffing companies. According to Conference Board data, 90 percent of all companies use temporary workers to help them maintain a flexible workforce that can quickly meet the demands of their markets. In contrast, 54 percent of survey respondents said they thought that half or less than half of US companies use temporary workers. According to the American Staffing Association, 2.2 million people in the United States worked as temporary employees every day in 2001.

In addition, 55 percent of respondents believe that administrative positions such as secretaries and receptionists are the fastest-growing occupations among temp workers. Contrary to popular opinion, Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that technical and professional jobs, including such positions as computer programmers, managers, executives and financial-services professionals, are two of the fastest-growing occupational categories in the temporary staffing industry. Since 1998, there has been an increase of 52 percent in the number of temporary employees holding technical positions. In the same timeframe, the number of temporary employees holding professional positions has grown by 227 percent. The fact that these are two of the fastest-growing occupational categories among temp workers attests to the trend that people of all skill and educational levels are opting for the flexibility and variety that the temporary employment lifestyle offers.

Reputable staffing companies offer temporary employees a full array of benefits such as paid vacation, health-care programs and 401(k) programs. This could be very good news for people who have not sought temporary work because they believed they would not be eligible for benefits. The survey indicates that this may be a common misperception, since 65 percent of respondents believe that temps rarely or never receive benefits. Of course, people considering temporary employment should be sure to ask the staffing company about available benefits before registering with that company.

Ninety-five percent of respondents underestimated the number of temp workers who get a full-time job while working with a staffing company, either through the staffing company or on their own. According to American Staffing Association data, approximately 72 percent of temp workers find a full-time job while working with a staffing company in less than a year. In fact, laid-off workers often use temporary employment as a bridge to a full-time position. Especially in periods of economic recovery, temporary positions may turn into full-time employment once the employer is ready to hire on a full-time basis. This is just one reason the temporary staffing industry is viewed by experts as a leading economic indicator. An increase in jobs in the temporary sector is often a signal that an increase in full-time employment is likely to occur.

As the staffing industry leader in the United States and the world, Adecco believes that part of its role is to educate the public about temporary employment issues. To this end, this is the first in a series of reports that will show how temporary workers are an important part of the American workforce. Working as a temporary employee is a viable route to fulfilling employment. Use of temporary staffing allows companies of all sizes to enhance productivity and gain the all-important competitive advantage by embracing a "just-in-skills, just-in-time" human resource model.

About Adecco

Adecco SA is a Forbes International 500 company and the global leader in HR Solutions. The Adecco network connects up to 700,000 associates with business clients each day through its network of over 30,000 employees and over 6,000 offices in 60 countries. Registered in Switzerland, and managed by a multinational team with expertise in markets spanning the globe, Adecco delivers an unparalleled range of flexible staffing and career resources to corporate clients and qualified associates.

Adecco SA comprises four divisions: Adecco Staffing, Ajilon Professional, Career Services, and e-HR Services. In Adecco Staffing, the Adecco staffing network focuses on flexible staffing solutions for global industries in transition, including automotive, banking, electronics, logistics and telecommunications; Ajilon Professional offers an unrivalled range of specialized branded businesses; Career Services encompasses our portfolio of outplacement and coaching; e-HR Services focuses on online recruiting activities for the Group.

Adecco USA serves more than 70,000 clients a year through almost 1,500 points of sales and service in every state. With headquarters in Melville, NY, Adecco USA employs about 3,300 full-time employees and places more than 160,000 temporary associates each week.

Adecco SA is listed on the Swiss Exchange (ADEN / trading on Virt-x: 1213860), NYSE (ADO), Euronext Premier Marche (12819). Further information can be found at www.adecco.com.