Reading Comprehension

49. The �rst sentence in the passage suggests that the
"observers" mentioned in line 1 would be most likely to
predict which of the following?
(A) That the number of new temporary positions
would decline as fewer workers who preferred
temporary employment entered the workforce
(B) That the total number of temporary positions
would increase as fewer workers were able to
�nd permanent positions
(C) That employers would have less control over the
terms of workers' employment as workers
increased their bargaining strength
(D) That more workers would be hired for temporary
positions as product demand increased
(E) That the number of workers taking temporary
positions would increase as more workers in any
given demographic group entered the workforce




Passage:

Some observers have attributed the dramatic
growth in temporary employment that occurred in
the United States during the 1980s to increased
participation in the workforce by certain groups,
such as �rst-time or reentering workers, who
supposedly prefer such arrangements. However,
statistical analyses reveal that demographic
changes in the workforce did not correlate with
variations in the total number of temporary
workers.

I have doubt in option E as passage talks about demographic group while making a twist that statistics didn't correlate with them but the line just before it talks about observers point so that means observers had thought point about demographic group.






Doubt:

Given the analyses, which reveal that
growth in temporary employment now far exceeds
the level explainable by recent workforce entry
rates of groups said to prefer temporary jobs, �rms
should be discouraged from creating excessive
numbers of temporary positions.



What time this now refers to? 1980's or after that?


Please help!

Experts! Can you please help me.