They are being replaced by the increasingly common phenomena of contract labor, outsourcing, and other "flexible employment" relationships. Management scholars overseas have characterized this relationship as "shamrock" organization. Just as the three leaves of the shamrock are all of different shapes, a company will likewise have various forms of hiring: full-time, temps, contracts, outsourcing ....
正職工作岌岌可危，取而代之的，是越來越盛行的所謂勞務承攬、外包等「彈性雇用關係」，國外管理學者將這種關係比喻為「酢醬草組織」，正如酢醬草一葉三瓣的外形大小各異，一個公司也會有正職、約聘、派遣、外包等不同的勞雇型態。