Question: Which industry is planning the biggest increase in its temporary workforce?

Answer: Buyers in the energy/chemical industry plan the largest increase in the percent of their total workforce that is contingent, according to the 2011 Contingent Buyer Survey conducted by Staffing Industry Analysts. Taking part in the survey were 236 respondents from large companies of 1,000 or more employees.

When asked what percentage of their workforce would be contingent in two years, the median response for buyers in the energy/chemical industry was 22 percent. That’s up from 13 percent now.

Based on this survey result, it’s probably safe to say that energy/chemical buyers are planning significant expansion of contingent use, but the 22 percent mark is an ambitious one. We’ll have to wait till next year’s Buyer Survey to see if that fully materializes.