Nearly a third of retirees in the US said they are considering temporary work, according to a survey by Indeed Flex. The rising cost of living is the driving force behind the move.
The survey reveals that a third of retirees are considering one to three shifts of temporary work per week. Additionally, 42% of working seniors who have never retired are considering adding temporary work.
Of those considering temporary work, 71.6% cited the cost of living as the driving factor.
The temporary staffing platform also reported a 70% jump in its active user base for job seekers over age 62 last month, compared to active accounts from January 2024.
“Temporary employment can serve as a sustainable and long-term source of extra income,” Novo Constare, co-founder and CEO of Indeed Flex, said in a press release. “The face of the temporary worker continues to evolve as a more diverse mix of people takes on temporary work.”
Additional findings from the survey reveal that experts predict inflation to exceed the Fed’s 2% target through 2024, according to S&P Global Ratings’ Q2 Economic Outlook report. Combined with the US employment summary showing fewer jobs added in April, flexible work unlocks endless opportunities.
Indeed Flex surveyed 1,000 US seniors between the ages of 62 to 85 in May 2024.
US initial jobless claims rose by 3,000 in the week ended May 25 to a total of 219,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised upward by 1,000.
They were up more than forecast. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 218,000 claims in the latest week.
Meanwhile, the four-week moving average increased by 2,500 in the latest week to a level of 222,500. The previous week’s average was revised upward by 250.
A survey by staffing provider Yoh found that 54% of job candidates would most want to be asked in an interview, “What do you think makes you a good candidate for this job?”
Other top questions included:
- “What soft skills (e.g., adaptability, conflict resolution, problem-solving) do you possess that would make you a good candidate for this job?” (Chosen by 46%)
- “What did you like most about your last job?” (Chosen by 45%)
- “What is an accomplishment (personal or professional) you are proud of and why?” (Chosen by 44%)
The survey presented respondents with a series of questions and asked them to choose which they would want to be asked in a job interview. It included 2,084 people ages 18 and older.
“Interviews are fundamental to the hiring process, and as the findings of our latest survey underscore, decisions about which questions to ask should not be taken lightly,” Emmett McGrath, president of Yoh, said in a press release.
“This is especially true considering ongoing talent shortages and the need to optimize all recruitment touchpoints to source candidates and fill open positions,” McGrath continued. “The key for hiring managers is to strike the right balance between relying on conventional, tried-and-true questions and pushing the boundaries of the traditional interview with out-of-the-box questions that test applicants’ creativity and problem-solving ability.”
You said its survey also found three themes that, in particular, resonate with job seekers:
- Promote positivity. Respondents indicated a greater desire for positively framed questions as opposed to negatively framed questions. For example, 45% of respondents wanted to be asked, “What did you like most about your last job?” while only 27% of respondents wanted to be asked, “What did you dislike most about your last job?” The preference was particularly salient for college grads.
- Ask about adversity. Respondents, particularly those of a minority background, were interested in sharing how they’ve dealt with difficult circumstances, according to Yoh. For example, 43% of all respondents wanted to be asked, “How do you handle high-stress situations at work?” More than half of Hispanic respondents, 51% wanted to be asked that question, compared with only 41% of white, non-Hispanic respondents.
- Approach accomplishments thoughtfully. Forty-four percent of respondents wanted to be asked, “What is an accomplishment (personal or professional) you are proud of and why?” However, respondents who were older, more affluent, and better educated were more likely to want to discuss this topic.
Some questions were less popular.
- Needs. Respondents appeared to dismiss questions designed to provide them with opportunities to articulate their individual wants and needs. Only 24% of respondents wanted to be asked, “What are your non-negotiables in a job?” and just 27% wanted to be asked, “What resources do you need to have available in your next job?”
- Hypotheticals. Respondents would rather avoid hypothetical questions, with only 28% wanting to be asked, “If money was no object, what would you choose to do as a career?” This trend became more pronounced as respondents aged, with just 35% of respondents aged 35-44 selecting the question and 20% of respondents aged 65-plus doing the same.
Yoh’s poll took place between March 12 and March 14.