The Benefits Of Temporary Staffing For Employers & Job Seekers

March 28, 2025 –

By Ethan Sympson

During talent shortages, businesses might have trouble finding reliable full-time staff that will contribute to their teams. The same can be said for individuals looking for a stable employment in times where the job market is ultra-competitive. Luckily, for both employers and job seekers, they can turn to temporary staffing solutions to bridge the gap between full-time options.

Temporary staffing has been used for decades, supporting many different industries and their operational needs. But what makes this model so appealing to businesses and job seekers alike? In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of temporary staffing for both employers and employees—and how you can leverage these positions to meet your goals.

What Is Temporary Staffing?

Temporary staffing—or “temp staffing”—is an employment type where individuals work with a company for a predefined period. This length of assignment can vary widely—ranging from a few days to several months—and may include both part-time and full-time opportunities.

From seasonal surges in demand to special projects and employee leave coverage, temporary staffing allows businesses to remain agile while giving workers the flexibility and experience they may be seeking.

Key Takeaways:

Roughly 73% of temporary employees work full-time.
Temporary positions can last from anywhere between a few days to a few months depending on company needs

Temporary Staffing – Employers

Why Do Businesses Need Temporary Staff?

Hiring temporary staff allows for companies to maintain productivity and service levels without committing to long-term employment contracts. Businesses are increasingly leaning on temporary staffing to reduce hiring risks, respond to market volatility, and manage workforce costs.

Whether it’s during a busy holiday season, to support a product launch, or to cover maternity leave, temporary staffing gives employers the power to scale their teams up or down quickly.

Benefits Of Temporary Staffing For Employers

1. Cost Savings

Hiring full-time employees often comes with a much higher price tag than just their salary. Employers are responsible for a variety of associated costs—from payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance to retirement contributions and health benefits. These added expenses can inflate the true cost of a full-time hire by 20% to 40% or more. Temporary staffing helps minimize these overhead costs by shifting many of them to the staffing agency.

These staffing agencies typically manage wages, benefits (if any), insurance, and other employment liabilities on behalf of the workers they place. This means companies can maintain a productive workforce without taking on the full burden of employment costs. When done at scale, especially in industries with high turnover or seasonal fluctuations, this model can result in significant savings for the business.

Employers can avoid costs associated with recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding: Finding and training new employees takes time and money. According to SHRM, the average cost to hire a new employee is over $4,000, not including the time it takes HR and managers to review resumes, conduct interviews, and facilitate orientation. With temporary staffing, the agency handles sourcing, screening, and administrative onboarding—freeing up internal resources and cutting these costs dramatically.

Temp staff are typically paid by the staffing agency, so businesses only pay for the hours worked: There’s no need to process payroll in-house or worry about benefits administration. You simply receive an invoice for the hours worked, which helps simplify accounting and provides greater predictability in budgeting labor expenses.

Companies can eliminate unnecessary overtime costs by supplementing their team during peak periods: Instead of pushing full-time staff to work long hours—leading to fatigue and potential burnout—businesses can bring in temporary workers to manage workload spikes. This helps maintain morale and productivity while avoiding the high costs associated with overtime pay, which can be 1.5x to 2x the base hourly rate.

Staffing By Starboard helped Nautical Manufacturing & Fulfillment reduce their overtime costs to 0 by assisting with their temporary staffing needs.

2. Workforce Flexibility

One of the most powerful advantages of temporary staffing is the ability to adjust your workforce in real time. In industries where workloads can shift dramatically due to seasonality, market demands, or unexpected changes, having access to a flexible labor pool is invaluable. Rather than committing to long-term hires for short-term needs, temporary staffing gives employers the agility to scale up or down without the traditional barriers of permanent employment.

Ideal for industries with seasonal workloads or project-based timelines: Whether you’re managing a retail rush during the holidays or fulfilling a one-time production order, temporary workers give you the people-power you need—exactly when you need it.
Helps avoid burnout for core team members during high-demand periods: Relying too heavily on your full-time employees during busy seasons can lead to fatigue, mistakes, and declining morale. Supplementing your team with temporary staff provides relief and helps protect long-term productivity and retention.
Provides flexibility for businesses to test roles before committing to a full-time hire: Temporary staffing can also act as a proving ground for new positions or departments. If you’re launching a new service line or expanding operations, you can assess labor needs through short-term placements before making full-time decisions.

3. Access to Specialized Skills

Temporary staffing doesn’t just mean general labor—many workers in the staffing market bring valuable technical skills, certifications, or niche industry experience. For businesses that need specific expertise to complete a project or fill a short-term gap, tapping into a staffing agency’s talent pool can be an efficient solution.

Rather than investing in extensive training or long recruiting cycles, companies can gain immediate access to skilled professionals who are ready to hit the ground running.

Useful for IT rollouts, warehouse system upgrades, or specialty compliance projects: Need a forklift-certified operator? A quality control inspector? A data migration specialist? Temporary staffing agencies often have candidates with very specific experience and credentials, allowing you to plug in the right talent for the task at hand.
Reduces the learning curve for new initiatives: Instead of training someone from scratch, you can bring in someone who has “been there, done that” and can add value on day one. This is especially helpful for projects with tight deadlines or complex regulatory requirements.
Helps fill knowledge gaps without long-term investment: You may not need a particular skill set year-round—but when the need arises, having access to the right person for a 3- or 6-month period can mean the difference between success and missed opportunity.

4. Faster Hiring Process

The traditional hiring process can be slow. Reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, running background checks, and negotiating offers can stretch out for weeks—or even months. Meanwhile, your team is understaffed, productivity is slipping, and deadlines are looming.

Working with a staffing agency can significantly reduce time-to-hire by leveraging a pool of pre-vetted, ready-to-work candidates. This is especially crucial in industries where labor shortages or urgent needs can impact the bottom line.

Reduces downtime between need and fulfillment: Whether you’ve had someone quit without notice or landed a large contract that requires immediate staffing, temporary workers can often be placed within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the role and market conditions.

Alleviates pressure on internal HR departments: Instead of stretching your HR team thin by recruiting and onboarding for every open position, your staffing partner can handle sourcing, interviewing, background checks, and initial paperwork—freeing up time for strategic initiatives.

5. Reduced Hiring Risk

Hiring the wrong person is costly. From lost productivity to potential safety issues or morale damage, a bad hire can set a team back significantly. Temporary staffing offers a lower-risk path by giving employers a chance to evaluate candidates in real-world settings before making long-term commitments.

“Temp-to-hire” arrangements allow both parties to evaluate the working relationship: Rather than relying solely on interviews and resumes, you can see how a temporary employee performs on the job. Do they show up on time? Do they communicate well? Do they mesh with your team? If they do, converting them to full-time is easy.
Lowers turnover rates by ensuring better alignment between employee and company culture: Culture fit is hard to gauge on paper. Temp roles allow employees to experience the environment and decide if it’s the right long-term match—just as you assess them for your needs.
Reduces the risk of bad hires and the associated productivity losses: On average, the cost of a bad hire can equal 30% of that employee’s annual salary, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. With temporary staffing, the cost and impact of a mismatch are much lower, and you can course-correct more quickly.

What Industries Leverage Temporary Positions?

Temporary staffing isn’t limited to administrative or seasonal work—it spans across nearly every industry.

Warehousing & Logistics: Pickers, packers, forklift operators, and inventory staff.
Manufacturing: Assemblers, machine operators, and quality control inspectors.
Healthcare: Nurses, lab techs, and administrative staff.
IT & Technical Roles: Developers, analysts, and cybersecurity specialists.
Customer Service: Call center reps, helpdesk support, and remote agents.

Industries facing labor shortages or undergoing digital transformation are especially likely to rely on temporary labor to fill the gap quickly and efficiently.

Temporary Staffing – Job Seekers

Why Do Job Seekers Want Temporary Positions?

While temporary staffing is often viewed as a short-term solution, for many workers, it provides a meaningful way to gain income, experience, and career clarity. Whether someone is just entering the workforce, returning after a gap, or exploring new industries, temporary positions offer valuable opportunities.

Benefits Of Temporary Positions For Job Seekers

1. Gaining Experience Quickly

One of the most appealing aspects of temporary jobs is how quickly job seekers can build valuable experience. For those who are early in their careers, transitioning industries, or re-entering the workforce, temporary work provides hands-on exposure to real job environments—without waiting weeks or months to land a permanent position.

Temporary roles help job seekers develop workplace skills and gather relevant job experience that they can put on their resumes almost immediately.

Ideal for recent graduates or career changers looking to build their resumes: Without years of experience, it can be hard to break into an industry. Temporary or contract roles offer an entry point—helping job seekers build both technical and soft skills that employers are looking for.

Provides hands-on training and insight into different work environments: Workers gain real exposure to tools, processes, safety procedures, and communication dynamics within companies.

Adds professional references and skills to help secure long-term roles: Employers hiring for permanent roles often want proof of dependability. Working a temporary assignment with strong performance is a great way to earn references and credibility.

2. Flexible Scheduling

Not everyone is in a position to commit to a traditional 9-to-5 role. Whether someone is attending school, caring for a family member, or pursuing another passion, temporary staffing offers the ability to earn a steady income without sacrificing flexibility. Many staffing agencies offer both full-time and part-time temporary roles, and assignments can range from a few days to several months—making it easier for job seekers to align work with their personal lives.

Choose assignments that fit your lifestyle or schedule: You may only be available for morning shifts, weekends, or work during school breaks. With temporary roles, you often have the power to choose what works best.
Work part-time or full-time depending on availability: Some job seekers use temp work to supplement income on top of other part-time work or freelancing. Others prefer a full-time schedule without the commitment of permanent employment.

Easier to take time off between assignments without jeopardizing your career: Need to travel, move, or take a break? Temporary roles give you built-in flexibility between assignments—without affecting long-term employment prospects.

3. Opportunity to Get Hired Full-Time

Many people are surprised to learn how often temporary positions lead to full-time roles. Companies frequently use temp-to-hire placements as a way to assess potential employees before offering a permanent spot. If a worker proves reliable, engaged, and capable, they often become top candidates for open full-time roles within the company.

Over 35% of temporary workers are offered permanent positions by the companies they are placed in: That’s a significant opportunity for job seekers who may not have been selected for those roles through the traditional hiring process.
Demonstrating work ethic, adaptability, and cultural fit can lead to long-term employment: Showing up on time, learning quickly, and getting along with the team are all qualities employers love—and they’re best seen on the job.
Provides a way to get a “foot in the door” at top companies: Many organizations only fill roles internally or give hiring preference to current workers. Temporary placements let you bypass that barrier and prove yourself from within.

4. Skill Development

Every new assignment is an opportunity to learn. Temporary work often requires workers to quickly adapt to new tasks, systems, and team environments. Over time, this builds an impressive portfolio of both technical and soft skills that can be transferred into a variety of industries. Some staffing agencies also offer formal training or certification support to help workers grow, making it easier to qualify for more advanced or higher-paying roles over time.

Improves soft skills like communication, time management, and teamwork: Working with different supervisors, team members, and customers sharpens interpersonal abilities and boosts confidence.
Exposes workers to different company structures, leadership styles, and processes: Gaining experience in multiple workplaces helps job seekers discover what environments they thrive in—information that’s invaluable for long-term career planning.
May include technical training or certifications provided by the staffing agency: Some agencies offer OSHA training, forklift certification, or job-readiness courses to help their talent advance into more specialized positions.

5. Earning Income During Transitions

For many job seekers, temp work provides immediate financial relief while they search for long-term opportunities or plan their next career move. Instead of going months without income—and potentially burning through savings—temporary roles offer a steady paycheck, often within just a few days of applying. Even a short-term assignment can bridge the gap between jobs or provide stability during uncertain times.

Helps avoid resume gaps and maintain financial stability: A gap in employment can raise questions during interviews. Temp jobs help keep your resume active while giving you structure and routine.
Provides structure and momentum in an otherwise uncertain job search: Having somewhere to be every day keeps workers in the rhythm of employment, improving time management and job readiness.
Can uncover new career paths that weren’t previously considered: A temporary job may introduce you to an industry or skillset you end up loving—opening doors you didn’t even know existed.

Common Temporary Positions & Pay Estimates

While wages vary by region and industry, here’s a snapshot of common temporary roles and typical hourly pay ranges:

Table Header	Table Header
Administrative Assistant	$46,010/yr
Forklift Operator	$44,750/yr
Customer Service Rep	$39,680/yr
Warehouse Associate	$36,770/yr
Data Entry Clerk	$36,190/yr

Get Support With Your Temporary Staffing Needs

Whether you’re a business managing seasonal demand or a job seeker looking for flexibility and experience, temporary staffing offers a practical, fast, and mutually beneficial solution. Working with a reputable staffing agency helps both employers and candidates find the right match with speed and confidence.

Staffing By Starboard specializes in light industrial and general labor staffing in the Kansas City metro area. Our team builds lasting relationships with both our clients and our workforce, ensuring every placement supports long-term success.

Frequently Asked Questions – Temporary Staffing

Employers

How quickly can a temporary position be filled?

Many roles can be filled within 24–72 hours, depending on the position and the size of the talent pool available.

Do I have to commit to hiring the worker full-time?

No. Temporary placements are designed to meet your short-term or project-based needs. You may choose to convert the worker to full-time if desired.

Who handles payroll, taxes, and insurance?

If you are working with a staffing agency, they handle these administrative burdens, allowing you to focus on managing your team and operations.

Job Seekers

Will a temporary job hurt my chances of finding a full-time role?

Not at all. Many employers value temporary experience, especially when it demonstrates reliability and work ethic.

Can I choose which temporary positions I accept?

Yes. Temporary workers are often able to select assignments that match their interests, schedule, and goals.

Do temporary jobs offer benefits?

Many staffing agencies offer limited benefits such as health coverage, referral bonuses, or attendance incentives. Be sure to ask your agency what’s available.