The employee and job characteristics of fixed-term and casual female employees were compared with those of other female employees. Among female employees, the characteristics of the industry and occupation in which they are employed are as important than their contingent status in influencing employment outcomes. (JOW)

Discusses the growing use of temporary employees by companies, including the reasons that temporary help is popular. Describes the types of people likely to become temporary employees and reports results from a survey of 144 members of the American Society for Personnel Administration regarding their organizations' use of temporary employees. (CH)

The increase of temporary workers, part-time workers, and consultants has caused corporations to make major changes in their human resource systems. These changes have produced both benefits and costs. Estimates of the growth of the contingent work force between 1980 and 1987 vary from 17 to 23 percent. (CH)

Includes "Editor's Introduction" (Cully); "A New Estimate of Casual Employment?" (Campbell, Burgess); "A New Estimate of Casual Employment?: Reply" (Murtough, Waite); "The 'Long-term or Permanent Casual'--An Oxymoron or 'A Well Enough Understood Australianism' in the Law?" (Owens); and "The ACTU's…

Although conventional wisdom indicates that temporary workers are becoming the norm and full-time workers are becoming an anachronism, statistics do not bear this position out. The truth includes the following facts: (1) companies are using more temporary workers, but these new employment arrangements provide new entry points into the labor market…