The temporary and contract jobs with the most growth

By Eric Gilpin, president of Staffing & Recruiting Group at CareerBuilder

In this post-recession era, employers are looking for opportunities to grow their businesses and to stay ahead in the recovering economy. Job seekers are also navigating the competitive job market and looking for ways to keep their careers moving forward. For everyone in the workforce, evolution is key because the old workplace rules have changed. Gone are the days when workers found a job right out of school and had a simple career path until retirement. Today, temporary work is helping both employers and job seekers stay flexible while working toward long-term goals.

In CareerBuilder’s 2013 Job Forecast, 40 percent of employers say they intend to hire temporary and contract workers, which is a 4 percent increase over 2012. Of those businesses that are hiring temporary workers, 42 percent intend to transition these new contract and temporary workers into full-time, permanent positions. For businesses, temporary workers are essential to succeeding.

For many workers, breaking into an industry or a specific company can be the hardest part of getting hired. To help job seekers take those first steps toward a permanent role, CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists (EMSI) have put together a list of positions that are hiring workers at an accelerated rate. The jobs on this list show that hiring is happening across different fields, from manufacturing to human resources.

Here are 17 temporary and contract occupations showing the most growth:

Team assembler
Number of people employed*: 128,096
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 21,529
Growth rate: 20 percent
Median hourly wage: $13.25

Office clerk
Number of people employed: 132,264
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 21,219
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $13.18

Customer service representative
Number of people employed: 76,445
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 12,334
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $14.90

Human resources, training and labor relations specialist
Number of people employed: 59,597
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 11,893
Growth rate: 25 percent
Median hourly wage: $26.44

Registered nurse
Number of people employed: 66,844
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 8,766
Growth rate: 15 percent
Median hourly wage: $32.10

Nursing aide, orderly and attendant
Number of people employed: 31,975
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 5,155
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $11.91

Home health aide
Number of people employed: 27,308
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 4,786
Growth rate: 21 percent
Median hourly wage: $9.96

Maintenance and repair worker
Number of people employed: 24,238
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 3,917
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $16.94

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver
Number of people employed: 22,701
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 3,700
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $17.96

Inspector, tester, sorter, sampler and weigher
Number of people employed: 21,458
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 3,414
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $16.63

Sales representative, services
Number of people employed: 21,485
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 3,336
Growth rate: 18 percent
Median hourly wage: $24.60

Computer support specialist
Number of people employed: 16,197
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 2,574
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $23.58

Computer programmer
Number of people employed: 11,487
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,821
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $34.48

Accountant and auditor
Number of people employed: 10,855
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,689
Growth rate: 18 percent
Median hourly wage: $30.04

Business operations specialist
Number of people employed: 10,528
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,677
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $30.82

Electrician
Number of people employed: 7,657
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,245
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $23.64

Sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing
Number of people employed: 7,028
Jobs added from 2010 to 2012: 1,143
Growth rate: 19 percent
Median hourly wage: $25.55

*Estimated number of people employed in the temporary help services industry in 2012.

Eric Gilpin is president of CareerBuilder’s Staffing & Recruiting Group.