Aquent, a global firm specialising in staffing solutions for the creative, marketing and communications industries has released the findings of its annual Asia Pacific Salary Monitor 2005-2006.

Almost all sectors surveyed in Singapore showed increased patterns of temporary help employment with all respondents in the advertising sector acknowledging the use of outsourced staffing solutions. In other divisions such as marketing, public relations and business support, at least 75 percent of respondents said they use freelance or contract staff.

Dakota Kennedy, senior agent at Aquent who is responsible for freelance staff recruitment believes that “The nature of getting through the busy times without the burden of the hidden costs associated with a full-time staff member.”

Many are opting to freelance because they choose not to be restricted to one job. Other benefits with freelancing are flexible work hours, exposure to many varied workplaces, freedom of choice on type or style of work, expansion of professional contacts and the ability to become a specialist in a certain area.

Other countries included in the survey such as Australia and Japan also reflected similar rising trends with the exception of New Zealand and the Republic of Korea , which reported a decline in the hiring of freelancers.