Intensified competition in low-cost markets and the financial crisis have encouraged a trend towards a leaner, more contingent (contract-based) workforce. According to a new report released today, Global firms in 2020: The next decade of change for organisations and workers, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the proportion of contingent to permanent workers will shift in favour of the former over the next decade. In a global survey of 479 senior executives, 67% of respondents agree with the statement, “We must maintain a leaner organisation, hiring on contract or outsourcing work rather than hiring full-time staff over the next ten years.”