AARP (08/31/12) Kerry Hannon

AARP reports that a survey of more than 3,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals by ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder and Harris Interactive indicates that temporary or contract workers are being hired by over 33% of U.S. companies this year. Gwenn Rosener, founder of the Washington, DC, area staffing firm Flexforce Professionals, says small businesses often look to temporary workers to avoid overstaffing and to test out future employees. The article notes that temporary employment may be sensible for retirees in need of extra cash or individuals interested in trying out new careers or eventually landing full-time positions. Many small businesses are hiring temporary or contract workers as bookkeepers and accountants, human resource managers, office managers, sales representatives, and Web strategists.