Editor’s Note: This article was kindly shared with us by Melissa Davis, Managing Director of Franchising at Express Employment Professionals. As the leading staffing provider in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Express Employment Professionals helps job seekers find work and helps businesses find qualified employees.
The staffing industry is a dynamic sector that plays a crucial role in serving as a bridge to fulfill diverse employment needs across various sectors. As businesses continue to evolve and adapt to market demands, the need for qualified staffing personnel remains constant.
Staffing Industry Analysts reported that the worldwide staffing industry grew to reach $648 billion in 2023 and projects the industry to exceed $660 billion this year. The industry saw some challenges in 2023 as the market resettled from the surge it experienced in the three years prior. Though down from that surge, the staffing industry is still up compared to pre-pandemic years, indicating its strength and upward mobility with a substantial market share still available to be had.
The Staffing Industry Remains Strong
The staffing industry proves its viability with great opportunity for potential investors looking to dive into the world of franchising. But why?
Growing Demand for Flexible Work Solutions
The demand for staffing services is rooted in today’s workforce where there is a desire for flexibility and work-life balance. According to an American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey, 44% of workers are willing to accept lower pay for increased job flexibility. This trend has led to an increased reliance on staffing agencies to provide temporary, contract, and contingent workers, as well as the need for agencies to counsel businesses through this adaptation to attract and retain top talent.
Recession-Resilient Nature
The staffing industry boasts recession resilience exemplified during the 2008 stock market crash, the COVID-19 pandemic, and volatile election years. Termed "first in, first out," staffing follows the upturns and downturns of market fluctuation, yet consistently demonstrates growth.
During these uncertain times, job seekers often grapple with fear tied to pay rates. While abundant job opportunities exist, recruiting qualified individuals poses challenges. The hurdle lies not in finding job seekers, but in finding a balance between fair pay rates and candidate quality.
As pay rates for associates rise, businesses may seek cheaper labor, sacrificing candidate quality and long-term business impact. However, businesses are increasingly recognizing the value of quality workers and factors necessary to attract them, a trend that staffing agencies capitalize on during times of uncertainty.
Access to Established Systems and Support
Opting for a staffing franchise provides franchisees with access to established systems, processes, and support mechanisms developed by the franchisor. This includes comprehensive training programs, operational guidelines, marketing support, and ongoing assistance from experienced professionals within the franchise network. Such support structures can significantly enhance the success rate of franchisees, especially those entering the staffing industry with limited prior experience.
Simply, People Always Need Jobs
The staffing industry has been and continues to be viable because companies always need labor and people always need jobs. Unique in its concept, a staffing franchise is in the business-to-business (B2B) space but is a sales-focused industry where you are trying to sell a service rather than a product.
Unlike other franchise sectors, staffing operates by providing a service, avoiding the uncertainties inherent in catering solely to customer demands – ensuring a stable business model focused on fulfilling essential workforce needs. Staffing bridges the gap between people who are looking for work and good companies who are looking to hire.
The staffing industry brings these two groups together, making it an ideal option for those who are both service and sales oriented, with a passion for working with and helping others.
Case Study: Express Employment Professionals
As a top staffing firm, Express Employment Professionals has over 40 years of experience to offer our teams to be successful. Putting more than 10 million people to work worldwide, Express’ goal is to help as many people as possible to find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.
Express franchise owners benefit from the backing provided by our headquarters, from marketing support that helps drive sales through tactical promotions to headquarters’ handling of payroll funding. Acting as a franchise’s back-office administrator processing invoices and other important paperwork for clients, this allows franchise owners to spend their time building relationships with local businesses in their community and doing what they do best.
The Express Franchise Owner community is an incredible resource for franchisees to establish their business. The average length of franchise ownership is 12 years—they stay because they love what they do. Within the Express Franchise Owner community, owners get advice about best day-to-day practices, build relationships within the brand and gain an understanding of common challenges and opportunities.
Express provides franchise owners and their staff the resources needed to lead and has earned the recognition for doing such. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Express has been included on prestigious lists such as Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 List and Best in Category for the 12th consecutive year, Forbes' America’s Best Professional Recruiting Firms, and Staffing Industry Analysts' Largest U.S. Staffing Firm, among others. In 2024, Forbes has already recognized Express as one of America’s Best Large Employers, and Newsweek named the company one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women.
Is Staffing the Right Industry for YOU?
The staffing industry has remained strong through countless economic ups and downs – and it is one of many resilient industries with attractive franchise ownership opportunities. Finding the perfect franchise for YOU starts with partnering with FranCoach.
FranCoach is a national search firm dedicated to working with individuals who are interested in owning a franchise. We have partnered with over 600 of the top franchisors in the country, spanning nearly 70 industries.
When we work with clients, our number one goal is to help them find the absolute best franchise for them to own. If you are looking to start a business, build a lasting legacy, make an impact in your community, and be your own boss, franchise ownership might just be the ideal path for you.
Reach out to us to learn more about becoming a franchise owner. There is never any fee for our service, so why not take the first step today toward your better tomorrow?