Indeed Flex’s research found that almost half (47%) have been temping for less than 12 months, and nearly a fifth (18%) began temping under three months ago.

The analysis comes as official data from the ONS showed that 1.7m Britons were doing some form of temporary work in the three months to the end of August.

The rising cost of living has been a key factor in the surging popularity of temporary and flexible work. Indeed Flex found that nearly half (46%) of those who started temping in the past six months did so primarily to boost their income in the face of rising prices. ONS data shows that consumer prices rose by 10.1% in the year to the end of September, with food prices soaring by 14.6% over the same period.

Other common reasons temps give for starting temporary work include topping up income to pay for holidays or Christmas, topping up income while running a small business or just the desire to have more flexibility over the days and hours they work.

While a fifth (19%) of those recently starting temping say they last did similar work when they were a student, “the idea of temporary work being the preserve of younger people is changing”, an Indeed Flex spokesperson said. “In fact older workers now lead the way, with 41% of those exclusively doing temporary work aged 50-70. Those aged 18-30 now account for under a third (29%) of people doing exclusively temporary work.”

A quarter (28%) of temporary workers fit temp work shifts around their full-time job, and 11% around a part-time job. Nearly a fifth (17%) fit temporary work around their childcare arrangements, and 8% around education. Six per cent are retired.

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