Pathways to Work for Low-Income Workers: The Effect of Work in the Temporary Help Industry

Julia Lane, Kelly S. Mikelson, Pat Sharkey, Doug Wissoker

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence to inform the policy debate about the effect of a newly important industry-the temporary help industry-on the labor market outcomes of low-income workers and those workers who are at risk of being on public assistance. The core issue of whether temporary help work harms the long-term prospects of disadvantaged individuals depends critically on the alternatives available to the worker. Temporary employment results in labor market outcomes that are better than not working at all. For example, while nonemployed public assistance recipients have only a 35 percent chance of being employed a year later, those who were in temporary employment have almost twice the likelihood of being employed in the same period. These findings, if correct, would support the use of temporary agencies by welfare programs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)581-598
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Policy Analysis and Management
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Business, Management and Accounting
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Public Administration

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pathways to Work for Low-Income Workers: The Effect of Work in the Temporary Help Industry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this