Further decline in amount of hours worked in temp jobs

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the amount of hours worked in stage A temp jobs was nearly 1 percent down on the third quarter. The number of hours worked in temp jobs also declined in the two preceding months. The index (2005=100) for the number of hours worked in stage A reached 110 in the fourth 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 – employer and employee – to terminate the contract than in the subsequent stages B and C. After six consecutive quarters of decline, the seasonally adjusted number of hours worked in stage B and C temp jobs remained fairly stable in the fourth quarter relative to the previous quarter.

Apart from the number of hours worked in temp jobs, other labour market indicators also deteriorated. The number of jobs dropped further in the fourth quarter. The number of job vacancies was also below the level in the third quarter. Unemployment climbed to 592 thousand in January 2013. In February, nine in every ten consumers anticipated unemployment to rise in the next twelve months.

Hours worked in stage A temp jobs

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