TEMPORARY-LABOR TREND HOT FOR EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

In an era of economic uncertainty, company downsizing, personal belt-tightening and corporate budget-cutting, the threat of not being employed full time would make many people panic. Among the unworried, however, are millions who have chosen a ``temporary'' career, and are greatly in demand as the temporary staffing industry achieves record growth.

The use of temporary labor is one of the hottest business trends. Companies are using temporary employees on a full-time basis as a competitive tool, as well as a means of cost control. According to a January 1996 Coopers & Lybrand Trendsetter Barometer survey, in the past year 80 percent of America's fastest-growing companies relied on the services of temporary part-time or contract employees to help them grow. The smallest companies surveyed, those with fewer than 50 employees, relied on part-time and contract labor most heavily.

Average daily employment of temporary employees in 1995 was more than 2.2 million, according to the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services (NATSS).

How are temporary staffing services filling this demand? Are there enough people who want to work on a temporary basis? Who are these individuals, and why have they chosen to be ``temps?''

There is no ``typical'' temporary employee. Men and women of all ages and skill levels - blue-collar, white-collar, technical, administrative - all are part of today's temporary work force.

Despite the varied backgrounds, these employees do have some things in common - the reasons why they choose a ``temporary'' lifestyle. In a 1993 survey of temporary employees conducted by NATSS, the factors that were most important in the decision to choose temporary employment were flexibility, additional income, the opportunity for skills enhancement and exposure to full-time permanent job opportunities.

``Full-time temporary employment is definitely a lifestyle as well as a career decision,'' said Carol Camden, senior vice president, marketing for Kelly Services Inc.

``Many of our employees enjoy a constant change of pace in their career, and like being presented with new challenges at a variety of job assignments. It's also an excellent option for people who don't want to get mired in a routine, but seek the job security and financial resources of a full-time job.''

In addition to flexibility and mobility, temporary employment offers opportunity and accessibility. In the competitive job market of the 1990s, access to good positions is often more readily available to temporary employees who already have a foot in the door, should they opt for full-time employment.