The Hidden Workforce: Why You Need Better Visibility of Contingent Workers

Ask any HR director how many contractors are working in their business today, and you’ll often get an estimate, not a clear answer. One global company working with Page Outsourcing initially thought it had around 2,000 temporary workers, but once they attempted to compile the numbers, it became clear they didn’t know. And when no one owns that data, problems quickly follow.

The scale of the blind spot

Contingent work is no side-show. The global gig economy generated US$3.7 trillion in 2023, and analysts expect around a third of the UK workforce to be contingent by 2030. Yet many organisations still struggle to answer four basic questions:  

• How many contingent workers do we have?  
• What do they cost?  
• Are they compliant?  
• Are they performing?  

If your organisation is facing similar uncertainty, download Taking Control: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Managed Service Providers for practical steps on getting visibility, control and value from your contingent workforce.

Why poor visibility hurts your company

If you don’t know who’s working for you, it’s easy to lose control of costs. You might be paying twice for the same role, or paying over the odds without realising. People who’ve left may still have access to your systems. And busy managers end up handling paperwork and legal checks they’re not trained for. In a world of strict data laws and growing security threats, that’s a risk no company can afford to take.

How a managed service provider helps you take control

A managed service provider (MSP) is a specialist partner that takes charge of hiring and managing all your interim workers. Instead of different teams using different suppliers with little oversight, an MSP becomes your single point of contact, bringing everything together in one place.

They help you track who’s working where, make sure you’re paying fair and consistent rates and put systems in place to spot issues early. On average, organisations save around 15-20% on contingent workforce costs by using an MSP.  Just as crucially, they gain a clear view of their workforce and stay ahead of compliance risks. Because MSPs work across multiple countries and industries, they’re well placed to keep up with changing labour laws, making sure you don’t fall foul of misclassification rules or audit issues.

Start by finding  out who’s working for you

The Taking Control eBook suggests a simple first step: take stock. Create a list of all temporary workers, including the systems to which they have access and the dates their contracts expire.

It sounds straightforward — but many companies are alarmed by what they find. In some cases, the number of workers is twice what was expected. And so is the total spend. It’s a quick way to uncover hidden costs and make the business case for change.

Ready to take control?

If you’re unsure who’s working across your business, how much they’re costing you or whether they’re fully compliant, you’re not alone. Many organisations only realise the scale of the problem when something goes wrong — like a surprise audit or a security breach.

But it doesn’t have to get that far. With the right partner, you can bring clarity, structure and confidence to your entire contingent workforce.

Taking Control: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide to Managed Service Providers is designed for HR, procurement and talent leaders who seek practical steps and expert insights to manage contingent labor more effectively.