What does a temporary help service job offer? Empirical suggestions from a Japanese survey

► We test whether a temporary help service (THS) job benefits workers in Japan. ► We conduct the average treatment effect estimation and its sensitivity tests. ► THS work has no positive impact on the probability of being permanently employed. ► THS workers face a higher probability of being unemployed than directly hired part-time workers do. ► However, THS work also offered some employment opportunities to those who were otherwise unemployed.