Local Staffing Firm Leader is Bullish on Mass Economy

If, as economists claim, that an increase in demand for temporary workers is a sign of a rebounding economy, then Massachusetts has reason to be optimistic Just ask Jamie Fennessy of Woburn's Microtech Staffing Group, New England's second largest privately owned temporary staffing firm At the mid-point of the year, Fennessy is witnessing a continued upswing in requests for temporary workers in light manufacturing, engineering, accounting and professional services that bodes well for future economic growth, particularly in the Merrimac Valley region "Our business is up significantly as local companies are looking to fill increases in orders with temporary workers--a proven economic barometer and a sign of future hiring trends," says Fennessy, who has been with Microtech for the past 13 years, the last four as director of operations in the Woburn regional office "My sense is that firms that outsourced jobs overseas have suddenly found themselves lacking in skilled workers to meet their needs, and are turning to us to fill the void From experience, the pattern is usually to use temporary help and then add full-time workers when the economy demonstrates continued growth I have every reason to feel good about the future of the Massachusetts economy" Understanding the fluctuations of the Massachusetts economy has become a staple of Fennessy's professional life since joining Microtech eight years after it was founded by owner and President Joseph Donahue in 1985 A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with an MBA from Boston College, Fennessy, of North Andover, has helped Microtech to become one of the state's most successful placement firms with more than $36 million in annual sales With 1,200 temporary workers operating out of five regional offices, Microtech's specialty is providing temporary staffing for light industry and manufacturing companies Fennessy's operation focuses on the North Shore up to the Merrimack Valley region with special emphasis on Peabody, Woburn, Lowell and Lawrence His clients include Teradyne, Medtronics and Boston Scientific As a result, Microtech's temps help manufacture many of the medical devices produced in Massachusetts, while also handling professional staffing, shipping and receiving, and buying and planning for small and mid-sized businesses "Massachusetts is still in the top five in the United States in manufacturing output," says Fennessy" We still have the best educated and most skilled workforce, despite the job loss that we have experienced since the last recession That work force will play a vital role in leading us toward economic revival" Fennessy says that he is honored when CEO's and economists seek his advice on economic trends based on his assessment of temporary hiring patterns "We are generally six months ahead of anyone else in predicting where the economy is headed based on the hiring of temporary workers," says Fennessy He views this economic forecasting as a service that a local firm can provide to local companies, a concept that has been a guiding principle of Microtech since its founding "A lot of our clients are people we helped to get their first jobs years ago," says Fennessy "Now they are hiring our temporary workers to meet their own needs We have long-term relationships with our clients that are reflective of our local approach, and we do quality control to make sure that our clients are satisfied That is what has enabled us to thrive and to stay ahead of the national competition from companies such as Manpower and Kelly Services"