A recent American Staffing Association article noted a high percentage of employees find that temporary assignments lead to permanent placements:

Temporary Employment Not a 'Dead-End'

People hired through staffing firms can move relatively quickly between temporary and permanent jobs, according to a study by the University of Florida. Researchers say that these findings counter characterizations of temporary help employment as "dead-end" and "inescapable."

In their analysis, the researchers found that during a four-month period, for instance, more than three-fourths of workers in temporary positions moved into permanent jobs, while 23% took another temporary assignment. In ASA research, 77% of polled staffing employees told the association that temporary employment is a good way to obtain a permanent job.

"There has been concern by some groups that the temporary help industry is creating an entire class of people who are churning through temporary-help jobs and can't escape from that cycle," said lead author and UF economist Sarah Hamersma. As a result of this survey, however, Hamersma and her team concluded that there is "no reason to believe that a large number of temp workers are 'stuck' in a secondary labor market."

The research also found that temporary employees generally receive higher hourly pay—around 15% more—than their permanent counterparts, which Hamersma suggests may be to compensate for less job stability or a lack of benefits. So, for someone who needs a more flexible schedule than a permanent job would permit, Hamersma says temporary work "might be a good fit."