The information technology (IT), IT-enabled services and retail sectors are hiring more temporary staffers. At the same time, they are moving with caution, cutting the number of permanent employees on their rolls and running multiple checks before they hire. Even for temporary hires, companies are opting for multiple rounds of interviews, psychometric and other assessments tests. Manpower Services has seen temporary staffing grow by 15 per cent in the March-May period compared with the same time last year, while fixed hiring has dropped. On the other hand, Kelly Services has seen a 15 per cent dip in permanent hires, mainly in the IT industry. Randstad India has seen temporary hiring go up by 20 per cent compared with the same period last year, while permanent hiring has slowed down by 25 per cent in the past six months.

Companies take in temporary hires with every spurt in business, but if things become difficult, they do not renew contracts. As a matter of fact in the previous slowdown in 2008-2009, companies fired 20,000 temporary staffers in a 15-month period.

Source: The Economic Times