The Temp Economy

Work

by Erin Hatton · 2011

A sociological history of temporary employment in postwar America, tracing the development of staffing agencies from the era of “Kelly Girls” to the rise of permanent temporary work. The book examines how contingent labor reshaped workplaces, employment relationships, and economic insecurity.

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1 episode featuring The Temp Economy

Marketplace
Slower wages squeeze households as employers hedge uncertainty
The episode connects weakening purchasing power with the ways households, retailers and employers are adapting to an unsettled economy.
Aug 10, 2026 · 26 min

1 episode featuring The Temp Economy

Slower wages squeeze households as employers hedge uncertainty