The Contract Workforce: What you need to know

As we have progressed through 2023, many economic factors have remained more steady than initially projected. The year began with an air of uncertainty as a potential economic downturn was predicted, but as time has gone on, we’ve seen the market remain strong. Through evolving economic news, one constant remains: it is difficult to predict what exactly will happen in the remainder of this year and into 2024.

When we process noise around a potential recession, we assume that employment opportunities will diminish to some degree, but we are still seeing that most organizations are actively hiring key talent and, in some areas, continue to experience talent shortages based on a lack of availability in the market. This can be confusing, so we’ve come alongside clients in the shift and supported them in unique ways to enhance both their talent strategy and their business goals.

Throughout this year, we’ve seen a shift to flexibility – on both the client and candidate side – with less hesitation around a contingent or contract employee structure. To help our clients continue to find talent in a sustainable way amidst uncertainty, our team is getting creative with structuring contract positions.

This includes filling what might typically have been a direct hire role with a contingent employee to help mitigate the risk of over-hiring employees as we navigate uncharted market waters. Whether our clients need additional capacity to sprint towards a goal or specific outcome, or simply flexibility in the structure of their hire, our team has been able to find talented individuals to support their needs. These kinds of solutions help clients meet their needs in a cost-effective but purposeful way, allowing them to meet business needs while assessing market conditions.

As we continue to navigate the rest of this year, our team will continue to adapt as needed to meet the needs of our clients. If you have questions about how we can help partner with you to make your next strategic hire, please contact us today!