Temporary employment and the transition from welfare to work

This study analyzes the employment patterns of current and former welfare recipients over a 6-year period to examine who works in temporary jobs, the dynamics of temping, and the training and links to regular jobs that temping provides. It also compares the long-term employment outcomes of temps with those of direct-hire employees. Results suggest recipients who temp and recipients who work only in direct-hire jobs are more alike than different in skill deficits, work barriers, and family constraints. The major difference is recipients who temp are more likely to be African American. Most recipients who temp do so for short periods of time; many report temporary employment provides training and links to regular jobs. At the end of 6 years, the employment rates and employment durations for recipients who temp are similar to those for recipients who work only in direct-hire jobs, but temps have statistically significantly lower hourly wages.