This year, Staffing Industry Analysts counted 251 staffing firms with $100 million or more in US revenue, up from 225 last year, according to the “Largest Staffing Firms in the United States: 2023 Update” report, released on Monday. Healthcare staffing firms represented 30% of the firms on the list while IT staffing providers represented 28% and industrial firms represented 25%.
“With 251 companies in this year’s report of staffing firms over $100 million in US revenue, this market share analysis provides by far the largest and most comprehensive listing we have ever produced highlighting the diverse landscape of US staffing. While the industry overall is quite fragmented, with more than 20,000 staffing firms in the US, the companies listed account for over three-quarters of US staffing market revenue,” said Barry Asin, SIA President. “Additionally, this report highlights the growth of the industry, as the number of firms over $100 million has grown from just 98 in 2010 to 225 in 2021 and now to more than 250 last year.”
Allegis Group, based in Hanover, Maryland, ranked as the largest US staffing firm. It was followed by Aya Healthcare, a San Diego-based healthcare staffing firm.
Five largest US staffing firms:
Of the firms on the list, California was home to the US corporate headquarters of 23 firms on the list. It was followed by Georgia, headquarters for 22, and New Jersey, headquarters for 21.
Staffing revenue in the report includes temporary staffing, direct hire and retained search as well as temp-to-hire conversions. It does not include other types of workforce solutions ecosystem revenue such as MSP, RPO, payrolling or outplacement.
Revenue figures in the report represent SIA’s best estimation based on available information at the time of publication. The accuracy of estimates may vary depending on multiple factors, including firms’ willingness to provide or confirm information about their operations.
Staffing companies may place competent workers in a variety of fields, including software development, marketing, finance, and others. Our best staffing agency picks are based on brand recognition, trust, authority, and the quality of each organization. The list below contains a selection of the best neighboring staffing firms that offer services in three or more specializations. Go to one of our specialty lists if you’re looking for job agencies in a specific area.
The following are the top 25 staffing agencies for finding talent:
1. Toptal
Toptal boasts a wide array of the industry’s elite tech and business talent, but it is unlike many other staffing agencies. Most of their talent work remotely from across the world. Initially conceived as the freelance marketplace, Toptal has evolved as a preferred staffing destination for leading Fortune 500 companies to bring in the very best.
Toptal began with only tech experts, but, over the years, they expanded their network to include finance experts, designers, and more. Companies are paired with a talent matcher who then finds the best talent for that company, working on hourly, part-time, or full-time contracts.
2. Robert Half
Robert Half offers businesses a full spectrum of specialized staffing and consulting solutions. They also help candidates find career opportunities where they can fit and thrive. The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and is a member of the S&P 500 index. It has been recognized nationally for its work.
3. Adecco
Adecco is one of the world’s largest human resource and staffing firms. Adecco connects thousands of professionals with some of the top global employers. Adecco has more than 50 years of experience in staffing and recruitment. Adecco services talent requirements across accounting, marketing, hospitality, customer service, retail, administrative, manufacturing, and other fields.
4. Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals is a privately held internationally franchised company with hundreds of franchised locations all over the world. They help companies and candidates find good fits for their staffing and career needs. The firm offers a full range of employment solutions including temporary staffing, evaluation hire, professional search, and human resources for businesses across borders. The team at Express helps its clients meet a wide range of positions including industrial, administrative, professional, and more.
5. Manpower
With years of experience and a global presence, Manpower is enriching people’s lives with meaningful employment and development opportunities. To ensure they serve their clients and candidates in the best way possible, the company has aligned itself with partners that both enhance and expand their offerings, including ones for recent graduates and veterans.
6. Aerotek
Aerotek began as an engineering staffing solution for aerospace and defense industries. These roots are what gave the company its name. Aerotek is ranked as one of the largest staffing firms in the U.S. for engineering and clinical/scientific industries. Staffing Industry Analysts has named Aerotek as one of the largest staffing firms for accounting and financing.
7. Insight Global
Insight Global is a premier provider of employment and staffing solutions to several Fortune 1000 customers across the United States and Canada. They provide long-term contracts, short-term contracts, temporary-to-permanent, direct placement, and enhanced staffing services.
Read Also: Top Staffing Firms in The UK
Insight Global specializes in placing contract job seekers into information technology, accounting and finance, engineering (non-IT), and government jobs. Since their inception in 2001, they have experienced growth within their industry, rapidly expanding from an Atlanta-based start-up to one of the most successful staffing firms in America.
8. AppleOne Employment Services
Part of the ActOne Family of Companies, AppleOne Employment Services has serviced the Federal Government including direct with FEMA. Recently, they formed a new corporation ActOne Government Solutions Inc. to specifically serve the Federal government contracts. AppleOne’s CEO, Janice Bryant Howroyd, was a White House appointee selected by former President Barack Obama.
9. Aquent
Aquent is known for assisting some of the world’s largest, most innovative brands and is a team ready to tackle any challenge with speed and determination. They work diligently to understand your specific goals and to help you hire permanent, temp to perm, freelance, embedded, or outsourced help that delivers breakthrough customer experience.
By aligning their account services team by industry, Aquent delivers quick, effective solutions by identifying the talent who will already understand your exact needs. Their network of high-quality, innovative talent covers dozens of digital marketing roles, including UX, digital marketing, and more.
10. Kforce
Kforce provides excellent results through strategic partnership and knowledge sharing. As a leading staffing services firm specializing in technology, finance, and accounting, Kforce fully engages its network of professionals. They have successfully fulfilled contract jobs and direct hire needs for thousands of employers, including a high number from the Fortune 100.
11. Randstad
Randstad has earned a reputation for combining innovative HR technology with human insight to power solutions like on-site management, RPO, and outplacement services. They take a personal approach to technology consulting and deliver solutions for the projects and challenges your IT organization is facing.
Randstad provides independent studies of employers and employees and gathers objective workforce data to help you understand the workforce and propel your business.
12. Vaco
Vaco provides expert consulting, permanent placement, executive search and strategic staffing for organizations across the globe, in various industries. Vaco has been recognized by national organizations and publications for their growth. In over a decade, Vaco has grown to multiple offices across the globe, hundreds of employees, and thousands of consultants.
13. Kelly Services
Connecting talented people to companies in need of their skills is what Kelly Services is all about. Kelly is continuously wondering what could be better for job seekers and employers. Kelly Services encourages companies to make the people-work connections, which enable the genuine growth job seekers and employers are striving to achieve with Kelly Services.
14. Workbridge Associates
Workbridge Associates provides IT staffing solutions across several major North American markets. They have an understanding of the most demanded tech skill sets and offer a deep understanding such as UI/UX, open-source, Microsoft development, network security, and mobile development.
15. PEAK Technical Services
PEAK Technical Services take pride in offering their clients some of the very best technical talent the marketplace has to offer. This allows them to find the best job opportunities for their candidates. They strive to support the contractors’ career goals with a wide selection of available opportunities. Their reputation is built on their integrity which is the foundation of all their personal and business interactions. They believe in building and sustaining strong relationships with their employees and customers for long-term success.
How do I Start an IT Staffing Company in USA?
While some workers are hopping from one position to another in search of better work conditions, others are finding that now is an opportune time to start your own business. If you consider yourself an ambitious entrepreneur, now might be a better time than ever to start a staffing agency.
1. Create a business plan
An essential first step to starting any business is crafting a detailed business plan. Almost every failed business venture is a result of not having a well-thought-out plan. Crafting your business plan will also illuminate some of the hurdles you may face while starting your business and give you an opportunity to plan how you will tackle those challenges.
Start by laying out your business goals and how you will go about achieving them. It should detail all the main points on how your business will be structured, financed, marketed, and run. This is also a great time to check what government requirements are in place to start a staffing agency, as they may vary depending on what state you’re starting your agency in. Your business plan needs to be clear enough that an external audience can easily understand its main points.
Getting this right from the beginning will make the rest of the steps in this checklist much easier. As you move forward with the planning phase of your venture, you will revisit and revise your business plan to ensure it stays up to date.
2. Get your company name trademarked
Decide on a good name for your business. It should be easy to remember and help you stand out from the competition. Once you’ve checked that the name is not already in use by another company, get it trademarked and registered with your local authorities. Now is also a good time to purchase a domain name for your website. There’s no need to design a full website just yet, but it can be worthwhile to design a simple “Coming Soon” landing page through a free website builder.
3. Secure funding
Startup costs for a staffing agency can range from $60,000 to $130,000, but can vary depending on your location and size of your business. And finding that funding is one of the most crucial steps to starting a business and there are many ways of doing so. You could seek a small business loan or grant, find private investors, or pool your personal savings with those of your co-founders.
For those seeking a loan or private investment, you’ll need your business plan and a pitch deck—essentially, a series of PowerPoint slides—outlining your financial projections, opportunities, and growth strategies. You’ll also need a Corporate Director Agreement if any investors are becoming board members.
4. Apply for an Employee Identification Number (EIN)
One of the government requirements for starting a staffing agency – or any U.S.-based business – is to apply for an Employee Identification Number or EIN. An EIN is required for tax purposes. You can do this free online through the IRS website and it shouldn’t take more than 15-minutes. To apply, you must have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN, ITIN, EIN) and be the principal owner of the business entity.
5. Open a business bank account and apply for a license
Once you have your EIN number, you’ll want to use it to open a business bank account. You will also need your business formation documents, ownership agreements, and business licenses. Depending on your state, you may need to apply for several different types of licenses and permits to get your staffing agency up and running, but you can plan on at least a federal, state, and local license to operate your business legally. Seek a consultation from a local business attorney to ensure you don’t miss anything.
6. Get insured
Getting the right insurance is a step no business can afford to overlook. Your chosen policies should cover just about every possible eventuality you could run into. For instance, staffing agencies will certainly need general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance. This is something a business attorney can also help you with.
7. Get the right tools
A modern business requires modern tools and technology to run efficiently. For a staffing agency, this step would mean looking into time and attendance tracking software, candidate tracking software, and a payroll system. Having reliable tools for these processes will ensure that your agency runs smoothly. Be sure to consider these investments in your budgeting and business plan, as this is not a step you can afford to miss. You should consider anything that allows you to automate time-consuming processes as this will free you up for more important business-development activities.
8. Launch your business
With all the preliminary steps now completed, it’s time to launch your staffing agency. If you’ve done everything right so far you should have everything you need to start acquiring staffing contracts, placing your employees, and reaching for your business goals. Expect a few growing pains in the first few weeks and months, which will have to be ironed out over time. This is normal for any new business. Ensure that you’re allocating enough income to cover tax payments and updating your tools, and continue revising your business plan as needed.
