Enhancing the employability of temporary agency workers: the interplay between agency support and client company investments

This study explores the relationship between the employment agency’s support, the employability of temporary agency workers, and the role of the client company investments in worker’s development. In particular, we hypothesise that the support of Temporary Work Agencies affects perceived career success, employability skills and perceived employment opportunities. Furthermore, we suggest that client company investments mediate the effect of Temporary Work Agencies’ support on workers’ employment outcomes. We tested the research hypotheses on a sample of temporary workers who found a job through the intermediation of an Italian employment agency. Results show that perceived career success and employability skills are positively related to employment agency support, through the partial mediation of the investments of the client companies. The study suggests that Temporary Work Agencies play a critical role in enhancing temporary agencies workers’ employability, even by shaping the investments of the client companies in workers’ development. This study contributes toward existing theories by extending the knowledge of mechanisms and conditions under which investments in contract workers of both Temporary Work Agencies and client companies can be effective predictors of their employability.