" 'It would appear that the mood out there is that companies would like to make certain hires. There's a pent-up demand, but because they don't have the OK to hire yet, they're hiring temporary workers," said Steve Kass, district president of Robert Half International, a professional staffing agency with nine offices in the Chicago area.
"Chicago temp agencies say they're seeing signs of growth for the first time in more than a year, although not enough to satisfy the huge number of willing employees.
" 'There is a massive need to work,' said Daphne Dolan, managing partner at City Staffing on West Wacker Drive. 'And they don't care how much they work for. Before, they would hold out for $15 an hour, where now they'll work for $10, $11, $12 an hour.' "
