Contingent Workforce

Contingent workforce

A contingent workforce refers to temporary, contractor or freelance workers engaged by an organization on an as-needed basis to fulfill specific projects or tasks.

The contingent workforce model offers businesses flexibility and scalability, allowing them to tap into specialized skills and expertise without the commitment of permanent employment. For example, onboarding contingent workers can be done in days or weeks, compared to 3-4 months for full-time employees.

Contingent workers can include freelancers, independent contractors, consultants, and temporary employees.

Industries that typically engage a large contingent workforce include:

• Creative Advertising & Marketing Services
• Digital Media & Publishing
• Editorial Content Management
• Video & Live Events Production
• Information Technology (IT)
• Game Development
• Software Development
• Financial Services
• Coaching & Consulting

These industries embrace the contingent workforce model to access specialized skills, respond to market demands, and manage fluctuations in project volume.

Related: What Is Contingent Workforce Management? (The Future of Work)