Contingent Workers: Who Are They and How Can We Select Them for Success?

The contingent workforce has become an integral part of the workplace, yet literature on the selection of the temporary or contingent workforce is relatively limited. This chapter describes who contingent workers are, the reasons why an organization may choose contingent (also known as temporary) workers, and how the selection process for these workers may differ from the process of hiring a long-term employee. Selection challenges associated with the contingent workforce and the key individual differences that may determine if a temporary worker is successful are examined. Finally, future research questions and topics to further the conversation on selection of contingent workers are offered.