Recapping Contract Staffing Trends of 2016 | What Changed?

Looking back on the year in staffing, we see the story of several notable contract staffing trends shaping how companies recruited temporary employees. As we enter 2017, it helps to understand what changed for contract staffing over the last 12 months, as well as what we can expect to see continue into the new year. Here are four of the contract staffing trends that were prominent in 2016.

1. Contract Staffing Allowed Businesses to Scale with Greater Agility

Much of what has been discussed over the last few years has been the “gig economy” and how it impacts workers. 2016 was the year that many businesses turned to contract staffing to scale their business in response to market fluctuations and technological innovations. By allowing businesses to operate with lower overhead, contract staffing and other freelance professionals has been transformed into what HumanResources calls a strategic asset – a way to respond to changes with greater agility and resilience, while also aligning with the needs of the more restless workforce.

“Strategic employers recognize contract staffing as a growing trend among employees, especially millennials, and as an integral part of their holistic talent supply chain management,” Alan Wong, managing director at Kelly Services Hong Kong, told HumanResources. “It’s a strategic way for clients to develop their talent ecosystem to support mid- to long-term business strategies.”

2. Social Media Led the Way For Contract Staffing

When it comes to recruiting the highest quality candidates, it pays to go where the people are. Across the board in every industry, social media prompted businesses to put a greater emphasis on employer branding and positive star-ratings and reviews. Recruitment software providers AkkenCloud calls social media “THE number one way to connect with candidates on a large scale” and this is likely to continue to be a vital trend into 2017.

Whether it is a long-term contract, or a contract-to-hire solution for the time being, get in touch with Profiles and see how we can streamline your recruitment process. With our knowledge and experience, you can ensure you are hiring contractors suitable for your organization and project.

3. Mobile First, Mobile Only Applications

According to Staffing Industry Analysts, more and more job seekers are leaning on mobile devices and apps to navigate finding contract employment. As we embrace what some are calling the “convenience economy,” 78 percent of job boards say the ability to apply via mobile is important to job seekers while 77 percent of job seekers say they use mobile apps as part of their job search. Employers looking to leverage contract staffing trends in 2017 and beyond should prioritize their mobile experiences so as to attract high quality candidates.

4. Transparency and Autonomy During the Hiring Process

In 2016, we saw workers – contract and direct hire – as well as contract staffing firms putting a greater emphasis on candidate relationship management. his is seen as a response to the tighter talent market, where contract workers are demanding better, more personalized treatment with greater transparency during the process. Advances in CRM mean that recruiters and employers are better able to communicate with contract workers and applicants in personalized interactions.

Contact Profiles

With contract staffing, you, as the hiring manager, have options. These contract staffing trends go to show the gig economy is only getting stronger. Contact Profiles to bring readily available to talent into your organization or onto your high-level projects.