For decades, the Census Bureau has used large numbers of contingent and temporary workers to supplement its permanent workforce. Census 2000, the decennial census, will entail large changes in workloads and enormous fluctuations in staff size, both in the field and at headquarters. The cyclical nature of the bureau's work has driven the development of innovative methods for recruiting and utilizing temporary workers. While challenges may differ, there are common lessons that can be applied in staffing strategies for each job type and environment. Many of the lessons learned at the bureau have broad applicability to other organizational settings. [from ProQuest record (http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=41745616&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=8726&RQT=309&VName=PQD)].