The Labor Market is Changing Yet Again. Increasingly, American Business GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

The labor market is changing yet again. Increasingly, American business is turning to interim staffing to cover a greater number of their employment vacancies. Once interim (or temporary) staffing was reserved for the lower-level positions requiring little training, such as an envelope stuffer, receptionist, day laborer, and the like. Today, however, a more highly trained professional is being sought for interim work. It is not uncommon to find computer programmers, writers, marketing professionals, CPAs, and even chief financial officers working in an interim capacity. The reasons for these changes in staffing norms are generated at both the employer and employee levels. Employers are pushing the drive toward interim staffing in order to maintain maximum flexibility.

Companies can be more innovative and flexible in their planning cycles if they have the option to hire employees on an as-needed basis. Additionally, employers save money using interim staffers, as they are not required to provide health insurance to temporary workers and they are not obligated to pay severance when the job terminates. Employees, too, are pushing the trend toward interim staffing. Increasingly, professionals are seeking more flexibility in their work schedules--often in response to family obligations. No longer does the permanent 9 to 5, Monday through Friday schedule work for everyone. By working interim, employees can work when it fits their schedules. However, interim staffing is not for everyone. Organizations whose workflow requires continuity of personnel may find interim staffing an impediment to productivity. Likewise, employees who need a steady source of income or who require the health insurance and other benefits provided by permanent employers may find the unpredictability in interim work problematic.

“The Labor Market is Changing Yet Again. Increasingly, American Business” is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip on English GMAT reading comprehension. There are 4 multiple-choice questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. According to the passage, the main benefit to employers of interim staffing is

1. cost savings from not having to provide benefits.
2. constant influx of new ideas.
3. flexibility in hiring.
4. flexibility in scheduling.
5. a more highly trained interim employee pool.

2. The main purpose of this passage is to

1. convince employers to use interim staffing.
2. explains the difference between temporary and permanent staffing.
3. explainswhich companies benefit most from interim staffing.
4. explain why interim staffing has become popular with employers and employees.
5. convince employers that interim employees also deserve health benefits.

3. Given the author's purpose, which of the following would most enhance this passage?

1. an interview with an interim employee
2. statistics illustrating the increased emphasis on interim staffing
3. a discussion of whether interim employees deserve benefits
4. examples of positions that are not good for interim employees
5. statistics illustrating how much a company can save by using interim employees

4. From the passage, it can be inferred that

1. interim employment is appealing to many segments of the labor market.
2. interim employees are often less qualified than permanent employees.
3. because of cost savings, interim employees will eventually overtake most permanent positions.
4. because of scheduling flexibility, more permanent employees will opt for interim positions.
5. interim staffing is itself a temporary solution to fluctuations in the labor market.

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