One in four temp to pursue their dreams

Nearly one in four employees work as temps to pursue other dreams, according to new research.

A survey of more than 3,500 temporary workers by internet job site reed.co.uk, shows that people temp to gain time and money.

One respondent said he temps to have "time to pursue a career as a DJ", while another claimed the flexibility allows her "to audition as an actress, travel round the world and be an artist".

Others use temping to fund major lifestyle or career changes,  such as plans "to move to Spain in about eight months time, once our villa is built", or to "become a full-time Feng Shui consultant."

Reed.co.uk claims people choose temping for one of five different reasons:

● Bridge builders - 29 per cent use temping as a stepping stone towards a permanent job
● Lifestyle leaders - 20 per cent choose temping so they can pursue personal interests outside work
● Skill seekers - 20 per cent use it to improve their skills and gain insights into different careers
● Family flexers - 6 per cent choose it to fit with domestic or family commitments
● Friend finders - 6 per cent choose temping because they like meeting different people and working in different environments

Some respondents plan to temp for their entire working lives, with one in 12 (8 per cent) classing themselves as 'career temporaries'. More men are attracted to spending their whole careers as temps with 11 per cent aiming for the long-term, compared with just 4 per cent of women.

By Quentin Reade