The story "State sees a record surge in temp jobs" (July 21) painted an overly optimistic picture. A surge of skilled, flexible, contract jobs is welcomed during an economic recovery. A surge of low-wage, temporary jobs does not inspire confidence.
Minnesota's family shelters are being filled by administrative assistants and customer service specialists who have lost work. Families employed by staffing agencies are stuck between low-paying jobs and public assistance.
It's cyclical. Employers rationally favor a résumé with robust steady, not temporary, work experience. Let's welcome signs of economic life, and be realistic about what the data means.
