CHICAGO, May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In an increasingly competitive market for skilled workers, hiring temporary and contract employees can help businesses sidestep talent gaps and remain nimble. New research from CareerBuilder and Emsi shows more companies will be tapping into this labor segment with temporary employment expected to add 173,478 jobs from 2016 to 2018 – an increase of 5.9 percent. The analysis was based on data pulled from more 100 national and state employment resources.

"Today, nearly 3 million people are employed in temporary jobs, and that number will continue to grow at a healthy pace over the next few years as companies strive to keep agile in the midst of changing market needs," said Kyle Braun, President of CareerBuilder's Staffing and Recruiting Group. "Opportunities are opening up in a variety of occupations and pay levels, and this is a trend we're seeing in a wide range of industries and company sizes."

CareerBuilder compiled a list of fast-growing occupations for temporary employment from 2016 to 2018. The following occupations have at least 10,000 jobs available, are expected to grow 6 percent or more, and pay $15 or more per hour*:

The following occupations have at least 10,000 jobs available, are expected to grow at least 6 percent and pay less than $15 per hour (but well above the federal minimum wage*):

In a separate Harris Poll study commissioned by CareerBuilder and completed in December 2015, 47 percent of employers reported that they plan to hire temporary or contract workers in 2016, up slightly from 46 percent last year. Of these employers, more than half (58 percent) plan to transition some temporary or contract workers into full-time, permanent roles.

"Temporary employment benefits both sides of the labor market. Hiring temporary and contract workers helps companies stay flexible and adapt quickly to changing market demands," Braun said. "For workers, it opens doors for those who want to utilize various skills, build relationships with different organizations and explore career options."

*Median hourly earnings covers anyone working in that occupation whether they are temporary or full-time, permanent staff.

**Full category name is Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical and Executive

About Emsi
Emsi (Economic Modeling Specialists Intl.) is a CareerBuilder company that provides industry-leading employment data and economic analysis via web tools and custom reports. Emsi turns vast amounts of labor market data into easy-to-use information that helps organizations understand the connection between economies, people, and work, and ultimately build a better workforce. Emsi's software services - Analyst and Career Coach - are used by thousands of professionals in higher education, workforce and economic development, and the private sector. Emsi has also produced more than 1,400 comprehensive impact analyses for colleges and universities in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, visit www.economicmodeling.com.

About CareerBuilder®
As the global leader in human capital solutions, CareerBuilder specializes in cutting-edge HR software as a service to help companies with every step of the recruitment process from acquire to hire. CareerBuilder works with top employers across industries, providing job distribution, sourcing, workflow, CRM, data and analytics in one pre-hire platform. It also operates leading job sites around the world. Owned by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE:TGNA), Tribune Media (NYSE:TRCO) and The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, South America, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.

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SOURCE CareerBuilder