"Microsoft and many other companies in this industry continue to think it's important to have contingent staff for temporary assignments," through temporary agencies that offer flexible hours and, often, higher hourly wages, he said.

As part of this exercise, Ministerial and non-Ministerial departments, their executive agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) were asked to provide headcount for all their payroll and contingent staff, including agency workers, interim mangers, specialist contractors and consultants.