Plain-language questions
Ask for flexible workforce share per month, customer or product in the SQL Explorer with AI. The AI writes the SQL, you see the query and run it yourself; the AI only receives metadata.
KPI · HR
Flexible workforce share: formula and example.
Flexible workforce share is the proportion of your workforce without a permanent contract, such as fixed-term employees, on-call staff, agency workers and contractors. You express it as a percentage of the total, in people or in FTE. It shows how quickly you can adjust staffing when work increases or decreases.
Flexible workforce share formula
Employees on temporary or flexible contracts ÷ total employees × 100%
Worked example
Of Acme Groothandel's 150 employees, 26 are on fixed-term contracts and 12 are flexible workers. The flexible workforce share is (26 + 12) ÷ 150 × 100% = 25.3%.
Fictitious figures for Acme Groothandel, a sample wholesaler.
How to read this KPI
A larger flexible workforce gives room to move with seasons and peaks, but can mean more turnover, onboarding costs and less built-up knowledge. Compare by department and by season, and decide which share fits your operation. Read it next to turnover and overtime to see whether the balance is right.
Pitfalls with flexible workforce share
- Forgetting agency workers and contractors because they sit in the purchasing records rather than the HR system.
- Counting only people when flexible staff often work fewer hours; also show the share in FTE.
- Treating a fixed-term contract with a view to a permanent role the same as a seasonal worker without saying so.
SQL & DAX
Calculating flexible workforce share in SQL and DAX
Two examples on a fictitious data warehouse for Acme Groothandel: a PostgreSQL query and a measure for a Power BI model. Adjust table and column names to your own model.
SELECT COUNT(*) AS headcount,
COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE contract_type IN ('temporary', 'flex')) AS flexible,
ROUND(100.0 * COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE contract_type IN ('temporary', 'flex'))
/ NULLIF(COUNT(*), 0), 1) AS flex_share_pct,
ROUND(100.0 * SUM(fte) FILTER (WHERE contract_type IN ('temporary', 'flex'))
/ NULLIF(SUM(fte), 0), 1) AS flex_share_fte_pct
FROM employees
WHERE hire_date <= CURRENT_DATE
AND (termination_date IS NULL OR termination_date > CURRENT_DATE);Flexible Headcount = CALCULATE ( COUNTROWS ( Employees ), Employees[ContractType] IN { "temporary", "flex" }, ISBLANK ( Employees[TerminationDate] ) )
Flexible Workforce % = DIVIDE ( [Flexible Headcount], CALCULATE ( COUNTROWS ( Employees ), ISBLANK ( Employees[TerminationDate] ) ) )In ENABLE
Tracking this KPI in ENABLE
In your Power BI dashboard
Define the KPI as a measure in your Power BI model and show it in the portal, with "Last refreshed" next to it. Access profiles and optional row-level security decide who sees which figures.
Custom dashboards (pilot)
Add the KPI as a tile to a custom dashboard, compared with last year. The Dashboard Builder is a pilot and can be switched on per client.
Monthly targets
With the built-in Targets app you set a target for the KPI per month, so you see actuals and target side by side.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the flexible workforce?
The flexible workforce is the part of your staff without a permanent contract: fixed-term employees, on-call staff, agency workers and contractors. Organisations use it to absorb peaks in demand. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the total workforce.
How do you calculate flexible workforce share?
Count the people or FTE on temporary or flexible contracts and divide by the total number of people or FTE. Record whether agency workers and contractors are included, because they are often held in another system. Show both people and FTE if they differ a lot.
How large should the flexible workforce be?
There is no fixed figure; it depends on how much your work fluctuates and which skills need to be permanently in-house. Decide per department what share is needed to absorb peaks. Use that as your target rather than a general percentage.
Further reading
- KPI libraryHR KPIs: formulas and examplesHR KPIs cover staffing, absence, turnover and recruitment. This is sensitive data: show it only to people who are allowed to see it, and do not report on groups so small that individuals can be identified.Read more
- ResourcesHow to build a KPI dashboard: steps and examplesA KPI dashboard is an overview of the key figures you use to steer towards your goals, such as revenue, margin, on-time delivery or absenteeism. A good KPI dashboard does not start with the software, but with the decisions it needs to support. You then choose a limited number of KPIs, define them, sketch the dashboard and only then build it.Read more
- SolutionPower BI dashboard portal: share dashboards securelyShare your Power BI dashboards securely in your own portal, with role-based access.Read more
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