Statistics

HPL conducts an annual member survey to obtain information on the number of employees, length of employment relationships, number of clients, and the turnover, of its member companies.

According to the member survey in 2011, the entire private employment service sector provided employment for approximately 100,000 workers, of whom HPL member companies employed around 70,000. Calculated in full-time employees, the entire sector employs around 25,000 workers, of whom the number of temporary agency workers totals around 23,000.

About half of HPL member companies that hire out personnel have used foreign workers. In 2010, 17 % of member companies brought foreign labour to Finland.

The turnover of the entire private employment service sector was approximately 850 million euros. HPL member companies accounted for more than two thirds of the sector’s turnover. HPL member companies expect their turnover to grow very strongly in 2011.

Temporary agency worker survey

HPL commissioned its fourth nationwide survey, aimed at temporary agency workers, from Promenade Research Oy in the spring of 2010. The survey examined temporary agency workers’ opinions on issues such as work content, job motivation and satisfaction, as well as what it was like to work for the client companies and to have a private employment agency as an employer.

That temporary agency workers were satisfied with temporary agency work is demonstrated by the fact that 86 % of them would recommend temporary work to their friends. In general, temporary agency workers are satisfied with the content of their work and their superiors in the workplace. In addition, the work promised has met their expectations. Workers give highly favourable assessments of private employment agencies as employers. For instance, the agencies receive special thanks for the timely payment of wages and the proper management of other employment relationship matters.

The results of the survey clearly indicate that the majority of temporary agency workers are choosing temporary agency work due to the freedom it allows. Temporary agency workers want to make their own decisions on work schedules and workplaces. In addition, through temporary agency work they seek experience of different work tasks and workplaces.

The results of the survey indicate that, despite the recession, temporary agency workers found employment quickly through private employment agencies. Half of the survey respondents found work within a week of submitting their job application, and 68 % within two weeks. In the experience of the majority of temporary agency workers, their chances of finding employment have improved due to being employed by a private employment agency. The impact of the recession is mainly felt in the reduction of working hours and uncertainty with regard to the future.

In addition, the background details of the survey respondents are a source of reliable information on the typical characteristics of a temporary agency worker. According to the survey, two thirds of temporary agency workers are women and 81 % are under 35 years old. Temporary agency workers have relatively high levels of education. Among temporary agency workers, 89 % already have a degree from a secondary education institution, a polytechnic or a university, or are currently studying for such a degree. Approximately 46 % of respondents belong to a trade union. Around one third of temporary agency workers are employed full-time, while for 37 % of the survey respondents, the temporary work they do is their primary job.