The State of Contract Talent Management and the Role of HR

21 January, 2009

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As the importance of specific skills to the overall economy increases, so does the popularity of contract work – both for hiring organizations and workers. The staffing industry has doubled since 2003, from about $60 billion a year to a $120+ billion a year industry today. Before the current economic downturn, many analysts expected it to surpass $200 billion by the end of the decade. It is not surprising then that more than 90 percent of the 319 organizations surveyed for this study use contract talent.

From the employer perspective, the main reason for the growth in the contract workforce is flexibility. The contract workforce can be rapidly expanded in times of growth and quickly reduced when needed. Teams can be built, dismantled and reconstructed around different needs as opportunities grow in new areas and decline in others.

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