A new study by staffing firm TeamLease claims that the pay gap between temporary and permanent employees is closing and lies at 4% in India, the Hindu Business Line reports.

According to the research, “the temporary staffing industry continued to clock double-digit growth, of up to 20 per cent year-on-year in terms of salary hikes over the last five years, the 2008-09 recession being the only aberration.”

Ms Sangeeta Lala, Senior Vice-President and Co-founder, TeamLease Services added that “With more and more traditional sectors recognising temping as a key people staffing strategy, the trajectory is clearly in the direction of growth in hiring and salary increments.”

The best growth rates in temporary salaries could be observed in the healthcare and pharmaceutical business while the telecoms sector saw a decline.

TeamLease claims to be India’s largest and foremost people supply chain and HR services company.