Temp workers are returning to the office as the remote trend fueled by the pandemic wanes. At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, staffing firms in North America reported half of their placed temps — a median 50% — were working remotely, up from 2% in 2019, according to SIA’s North America Staffing Company Survey 2023. However, that share declined to a median 10% in 2023 and is projected to remain at that level for the next five years.
As expected, the use of remote temporary workers varies greatly based on skill segment. For example, among IT staffing firms, a midrange of 20% to 74% of their temps are working remotely, but among industrial staffing firms a midrange of just 0% to 2% are remote.
Respondents were asked “About what share of your temporary workers are (or will be) mostly working at home/remotely?” for the periods 2023, 2024 and in five years. Similar questions were asked in the previous four years.
Median share of temporary workers working remotely, 2019 to 2023, Projected 2024 and 2028
