Manpower Plans Orange County Office : High-Tech Growth Lures ‘Temps’ Firm

Looking to cash in on the growing demand for high-tech temporary workers, Manpower Temporary Services of San Diego has announced plans to open an Orange County office early next year.

Philip Blair, co-owner of the San Diego Manpower franchise, said that within the first year of opening an Orange County “technical services” office he will recruit engineers, programmers, circuit board designers and support staff to send out to Orange County’s computer or defense-oriented companies.

“There is a potential for a lot of volume in the technical temporary positions and we are anxious to pursue that market,” said Blair, who added that the office probably will generate sales of about $1 million during its first year.

Manpower, one of the largest temporary service firms in San Diego County, reported $13.8 million in sales last year and projects sales of about $18 million this year.

If county and national statistics concerning the growth of the temporary service industry as a whole are any indication of future success, then Blair’s predictions may be right.

According to the state Employment Development Department, the number of temporary employees in Orange County has more than tripled in the last six years, climbing to 12,300 in 1984 from 3,900 in 1978.

By contrast, the number of temporary employees in San Diego County has not increased as dramatically. The 12-month average only doubled between 1984 and 1978, from 4,147 to 8,557. Much of that growth, however, was in 1984; and, at year-end, the total temporary employment work force reached 9,400, according to state labor analyst Jack Nowell.

One of the reasons companies hire temporary workers instead of permanent employees is cost. Companies say they can cut their payroll expenses by as much as 20%, since temporaries are typically paid less than full-time staff and are not privy to the same costly health and other fringe benefits. Moreover, companies that are nervous about unexpected changes in the economy find they can use temporaries to handle seasonal peaks.

Blair said he has an eye on cities like Irvine and Newport Beach, where many high-tech companies are located.

“More and more firms are moving to Orange County,” he said. “It’s a natural growth area for our business.

“We’ve given a lot of these companies good service in San Diego,” said Blair, referring to some of his major clients, such as TRW and Coopervision Inc. “We hope they’ll give us a shot in Orange County.”