With so much uncertainty in the job market, cautiousness prevails
The only certainty there is in today’s job market is uncertainty. No one, and we do mean no one, knows what the economy, the business world and the workforce will look like when life, as we know it, returns to normal. Whatever this new world looks like, it’s pretty certain that much of the pain may have to endured by the older workers.
There are some telltale signs, however. It appears that – for some people, in some jobs, in some industries – work from home is here to stay. How wide and how deep that phenomenon will spread is anyone’s guess.
One possible scenario that could develop will have many people working from home and some companies realizing that their respective staffs had become bloated and some pruning may be in order. Of course, that would place a much larger work burden on those who remain. If our scenario holds true, many companies will realize that more bodies are needed but they may be reluctant to add staff. All of which will lead those employers to turn to temporary staffing.
And that’s where the older workers come in. As the pressure increases on the labor pool, older workers are the perfect fit for those employers in need of help. As temps, older workers are experienced and reliable, and they tend to have an exceptional work ethic.
Older workers are a perfect fit temp agencies, and temps are perfect fits for many employers.
The good news for the older worker is that many temp agencies pay comparatively well and many offer benefits. The other upsides for the older worker are: one, generally there is no long term commitment; two, it shows that you’re continuing to work while you maintain your job search; and three, having proven their worth, many times those temp assignments turn into regular, full time positions.