Dynamics of Technical Temps

Traditionally, the temporary technical market has consisted of engineers, designers, drafters, and special technicians. Large-volume users have been and continue to be aerospace and electronics manufacturers, shipbuilders, auto motive manufacturers, engineering firms, and other similar industries that depend heavily on defense work.

Within the technical temp sector, services supplying temporary employees are often called job shops. Job shops got their start in Detroit during World War II. The automotive industry subcontracted work to crews of engineers and draftsmen through engineering services, which became known as job shops. Eventually, the shops evolved into personnel services and began exploring other avenues of technical expertise. Today, firms offering temporary technical personnel have upgraded the job shop image into highly specialized services with experienced, sophisticated technicians.

How are technical temps used?

• To write manuals
  
  
• To design defense systems
  
  
• To produce tools and machinery
  
  
• To create software packages
  
  
• To build structures

The majority of temps in this area work on small to large contracts that are held by the customer hiring the temp. Many of these are government contracts. Technical temps are rarely used as fill-ins for vacationing or ill employees; instead, they work for an average of six months or longer on one project.

Technical temps can often earn more money in temporary spots than they can in regular full-time jobs; however, few are covered for health insurance and fringe benefits like vacation or holiday pay Some temps work in their local market, while others may relocate to another part of the country for the duration of the assignment. Technical Aid Corporation, in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts, has developed parallel companies in three major technical disciplines: technical personnel, EDP/MIS contractors (EDP/MIS is the common acronym for electronic data processing/management information system), and systems and programming applications. Anthony Balsamo, corporate vice-president, says, "Our temps can earn twenty to forty percent more income. One of our professionals can earn a year’s salary in approximately nine months."

"These temps are building nuclear power plants, army tanks, cars, air planes, moon-shot systems, and more," says one temp service representative. According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly (Fall 1986), prospects for technical temps look good through 1990:

A large part of the growth in these jobs is expected to result from increased investment in capital equipment. An investment boom is projected because of expected lower real estate rates, the prospect of a stable economy, and the desire of manufacturers to take advantage of new technologies, purchases of which were postponed during the low investment years from 1980 through 1982. Growth is also expected in defense-related industries.

Professional Temps

Beyond the understood technical occupational titles, there exists a group of professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants, who fall into the technical category.