What is Staffing Agency?

By Abhishek Kathpal | Updated 25 July, 2022

The job market can sometimes get tricky. There is no shortage of companies and businesses looking for skilled employees, nor is there a scarcity of job seekers looking for work. However, both might not always be searching for one another across the same channels. As such, there’s no connection. That’s where staffing agencies come in, providing the connecting link between job providers and job seekers.

What is Staffing Agency

Staffing Agency meaning and definition

A staffing agency is an agency that matches organizations and positions with suitable candidates. The positions and openings they connect with job seekers can be part-time, full-time, permanent, or temporary. As such, staffing agencies play a crucial role in providing companies with the type of workforce they need while also bringing employment opportunities to job candidates that they might otherwise not come across.

How do Staffing Agencies work?

Employers contact the agency when they need particular positions filled. They indicate to the agency the job requirements, payment package/rate, and the type of employees they want (temp or permanent, part-time or full-time). The agency may or may not have suitable candidates on its books. If they do, they discuss the employment opportunity with the candidate, sometimes in partnership with the company doing the hiring but not always. If they don’t, they play the role of recruiter, putting out ads for the jobs and conducting interviews.

Then, the staffing agency sends a list of suitable candidates to the hiring company, and they decide which potential employees are best for their operation. For services rendered, the staffing agency charges the employers a markup of the employees’ wages (if the position is temporary) or a one-time fee (if it’s a permanent position).

Benefits of using a Staffing Agency?

  1. Relatively quick hires: staffing agencies maintain a database of interested candidates. Even when they don’t, they work fast to provide suitable candidates. As such, they save companies the hassle of handling recruitment themselves, saving them money.

  2. Flexibility: using a staffing agency grants employees access to more flexible hiring choices. They can opt to employ temp workers only when needed and make budget cuts where necessary. The staffing agencies also provide candidates capable of filling a variety of working conditions, as the company may need them.

About the Author

Abhishek Kathpal

Abhi is the co-founder at Longlist.io. Funded by US based OnDeck, Longlist is currently enabling 50+ businesses to increase their candidate and client reach outs, automating the workflow across stages.