Geography Working papers
This Working Paper is part of the The Geographies of Temporary Staffing Unit Working Paper series.
The changing business of the UK temporary staffing industry
Kevin Ward
Abstract
This paper examines the changing structure of the UK temporary staffing industry. It argues that despite the research produced recently on the different non-standard employment contracts, such as fixed-term, part-time and temporary work, relatively little attention has been paid to the temporary staffing industry as an industry in itself. In light of this perceived gap in the literature, this paper first separates out the evolution of the temporary staffing industry in to three periods. Second it draws upon an on-going programme of research to analyse conceptually the restructuring of the temporary staffing industry. Third it places the UK temporary staffing industry in context, drawing upon a series of semi-structured interviews with temporary staffing agency owners and managers. In conclusion the paper argues the temporary staffing industry deserves more attention than it has so-far received from those with an interest in work and employment, particular as its global presence extends and its local presence deepens.
View/Download Options
You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat (downloadable from Adobe) to view PDF file(s). PDF files open in a new window.