The global recession has hit the interim management hard, but the number of interims involved in part-time projects has risen, according to a new report.

The report by Headhunter Executives Online found that while the proportion of interim executives engaged in full-time assignments has fallen from 56% engaged in full-time projects in 2006 to just 27% this year, those engaged in part-time projects has almost doubled from 13% to 20%.  

The proportion engaged in multiple part-time projects has remained stable with little change reported – suggesting that for candidates willing to get involved in multiple projects there is still the opportunity to remain gainfully employed even in the worst recession since the 1930s.  

Furthermore, candidates taking part in the study also stated that their billing rates had remained unchanged year-on-year despite considerable variance of pay rates across the various functional areas.

Anne Beitel, managing director at Executives Online, says: “Interim management is an attractive proposition, for both the practitioners and the clients who engage them. It has undoubtedly been impacted by the global downturn but this report shows how many seasoned executives are choosing to make this career switch.  

“Our report clearly shows that interim management provides companies what they are looking for right now - rapidly deployable expertise to reinforce existing teams. Interim offers the fastest route to improve efficiency and performance while reducing exposure to long-term employment contracts at a senior level.”