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Temporary, But Changing

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By DAVE SIMANOFF, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2007

Updated: 09/24/2007 08:55 pm

TAMPA - If the idea of temporary staffing conjures up images of '70s secretaries and steno pools, it's time to update your thinking.

It's time to review the facts.

And it's time to meet Mary Brodwolf.

Brodwolf, a 25-year printing industry veteran, recently returned to Tampa after living in Cincinnati. She's a professional, with a lengthy resume listing her management experience, and she's working with TechStaff, a Tampa-based staffing agency, as she resumes her career here.

Brodwolf says she's not looking for part-time or short-term work. She wants a permanent position or a temporary job that has a high likelihood of becoming a permanent one. Her chances are very good: A recent survey by the American Staffing Association found that about three-fourths of temporary staffing assignments led to permanent job offers.

By herself, as a job seeker, 'I could have already had a couple of jobs,' Brodwolf said. Working through a staffing agency brings her more choices, and it means she can find a company where she feels she best fits in and likes the corporate culture, she said.

'Being without work right now, it's not enjoyable,' she said. 'I like to be busy.'

Brodwolf exemplifies how the staffing industry has evolved. Although staffing firms still provide clerical workers and manual labor on demand to clients, they're now also providing professional talent: accountants, engineers, researchers, and experts in production, finance, manufacturing and information technology.

Temporary staffing firms employed 676,249 people in Florida last year, accounting for $3 billion in wages, according to the American Staffing Association, the industry's main national advocacy group. Of those workers, about 240,000 people parlayed their temporary job into a permanent position.

The association says, on average, there were about 160,000 temporary employees working each day in Florida last year. That would mean that 1 in every 50 workers in Florida, or about 2 percent of the labor force, is temporary.
Staffing firms have grown because 'corporate America has become very sophisticated about how they manage the talent pool,' said Steve McMahan, chief sales officer for Kforce, a Tampa-based staffing firm.

Companies can bring on temporary staff to help out on large projects, or turn to staffing firms to support their internal human resources teams and recruiting efforts, McMahan said.

As demand for professional temporary staff has grown, so has Kforce. In 1995, when the company became publicly traded, it posted $188 million in sales. This year, it's expecting over $1 billion, McMahan, said.

'We Bring Jobs To People'

Adam Mainzer, president of TechStaff, said many people look at temporary staffing as an effective route to permanent placement in a competitive job market. Others seek out temporary staffing positions because they're looking for flexible hours, short-term assignments, or want to gain skills by working for different projects at different employers.

'We bring jobs to people,' he said. 'They may have several jobs to select from: They have the opportunity to try different jobs and make the right decision.'

Mainzer is the present-elect of the Florida Staffing Association. He's also the current president of the organization's regional chapter.

He says the staffing industry faces the same pressures as other businesses in Florida: finding good workers and reining in expenses.

'We're in the people business, so the supply and quality of workers in Florida - that's always our biggest concern,' he said.

Mainzer said he's also troubled by the rising taxes and insurance costs in Florida, which he says hinder the state's ability to attract and retain companies and entrepreneurs.

'You don't want a good business to leave the state,' he said.

'Thank Goodness' It Has Changed

If you're still not convinced that the staffing industry has changed, Holly Tomlin suggests you're in the minority.

Tomlin, founder of Tomlin Tested Staffing in Tampa, said she's seen public perception shift dramatically since she started her firm 24 years ago.

Back then, people thought staffing firms did nothing more than provide warm bodies for empty seats. Today, many people see staffing firms as partners that provide talent that help their clients grow.

'Thank goodness,' Tomlin said. 'There was a time when I used to be concerned about it, and I'm not anymore. I'm more proud than ever. We get to help a lot of people.'

Reporter Dave Simanoff can be reached at dsimanoff@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7762.

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