Number of hours worked in temp jobs increases further

The amount of hours worked in temp jobs increased by 3 percent in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter. Adjusted for seasonal variation, the index figure (2005=100) for the number of hours worked in stage A was 110.8, as against 107.6 in the previous quarter.

The increase in hours worked in temp jobs is in line with the current state of the economy. In the second half of 2008 and in 2009, the falling demand for goods and services led to less work for temporary employees, but demand picked up in 2010. According to the Survey on Business Services conducted by Statistics Netherlands, temp job agencies have been very optimistic in recent months about future employment in their branch.

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 – employer and employee – to terminate the contract than in the subsequent stages B and C.

Hours worked in stage A temp jobs