Some observers have attributed the dramatic growth in temporary employment that occurred in the United States during the 1980s to increased participation in the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or reentering workers, who supposedly prefer such arrangements. However, statistical analyses reveal that demographic changes in the workforce did not correlate with variations in the total number of temporary workers. Instead, these analyses suggest that factors affecting employers account for the rise in temporary employment. One factor is product demand: temporary employment is favored by employers who are adapting to fluctuating demand for products while at the same time seeking to reduce overall labor costs. Another factor is labor’s reduced bargaining strength, which allows employers more control over the terms of employment. Given the analyses, which reveal that growth in temporary employment now far exceeds the level explainable by recent workforce entry rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs, firms should be discouraged from creating excessive numbers of temporary positions. Government policymakers should consider mandating benefit coverage for temporary employees, promoting pay equity between temporary and permanent workers, assisting labor unions in organizing temporary workers, and encouraging firms to assign temporary jobs primarily to employees who explicitly indicate that preference.
一些观察者认为：八十年代美国临时性工作的突然增加是因为初进和再进工作岗位的人数增加。据说他们喜欢这种雇佣方式。然而数据分析显示，劳动人口统计数据的变化与从事临时性工作的总人数并没有相关性。一个原因是那些为适应产品需求不断波动的同时又想降低劳动力成本的雇主喜欢雇佣临时工人。另一个原因是雇员商讨力的减弱，这使雇主在雇佣问题上更有操纵权。以上分析表明：现在临时雇佣人数大为增加，已经远非喜欢这种雇佣方式的人的增加所能解释，应该阻止公司设立过多的临时职位。政府政策的制定者应该考虑保障临时雇员的利益，促进临时员工和长期员工的工资待遇平等，帮助工会组织临时雇员，并且鼓励公司将临时工作分配给那些真正喜欢临时工作的人。
