Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics between employers' use of temporary agency workers and the aspirations of agencies to expand their role further within organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The study focuses on the construction sector in the UK. A mixed...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of contingent labour in the construction and civil engineering sector in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the findings of a national postal survey of employment practices within the UK construction and civil...

Purpose – As a backdrop to the empirical contributions contained within this special section, this Guest Editorial aims to review the context of construction employment. It summarises the challenges inherent in construction work which have impeded the development of human resource management...