I don't believe I've ever seen the market this hot at this time of year

There is a ton, and I mean a metric shit ton, of work out there. I can't even tell you how many projects I've seen advertised in the last two weeks. Easily two dozen. Normally, this is a time of year when work is really hard to come by -- you have a gig end between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the odds usually are pretty fair that you're shit out of luck until after New Year's. As it is, there are projects aplenty, and many with overtime. Very unusual.

Naturally, this probably is only happening because we're been told our project will be lasting past New Year's, and possibly well past, so I don't need work at the moment. I predict that the market will remain hot until the day before this project crashes. Pessimistic? Sure -- but pessimism is what makes you find a new project when you think your current gig will be crashing soon. I think of it as a survival instinct.

Wow. The rates are going up even more

Ever since the market for temps crashed in the second half of 2008, during our wonderful economic recovery work has been uneven and low-paid. The going rate went from $35/hour to $30/hour overnight, and stayed there for six years. If you were lucky. There were lots of projects at $27 or $28 per hour, and we choose not to speak of the JD-only projects at $18 per hour. Those are still with us, as readers of this blog know.

However, in the last several weeks, the market has exploded. In the last two days, there have been about 20 projects advertised on The Posse List. I only know about these because I subscribe to The Posse List and get the emails. I have no idea what has been posted on Craig's List or elsewhere. Things are on fire. We have seen projects re-post because they couldn't fill their slots the first time around. My project keeps advertising for more people. We're seeing rates at $31 or $32 per hour, and we're starting to see overtime. I don't know if it will last, but it's a good trend.

Today, we saw an even more positive sign. One of the projects posted yesterday on The Posse List reposted today:

We are staffing for a review scheduled to begin as early as tomorrow afternoon (Wed 6/25/14).
Details:
*Must be DC barred
*Pay rate $34/hour. No OT expected.
*Must be able to start ASAP
*Duration: one week - approx.through July 3rd
*In DC near Metro
Please respond ASAP with your updated resume to [the email address for an agency for which I have never even registered, much less worked].

This project was at $32/hour yesterday. Granted, it is short. But they couldn't staff it at $32 with no overtime. My project and the upcoming review that will accompany the Time Warner Cable-Comcast merger are eating up every temp in town. Make the money now, kids. Remember Rule No. 2.