Why Work With Staffing Agencies To Hire Your Temporary Workers

Recruitment is getting more challenging day by day. Layers of complexities have emerged with the pandemic pushing most hiring activities online. Further, adding gig workers to the mix has increased the difficulties of the HR folks.

No wonder staffing agencies are in demand these days. In 2018, the value of the staffing industry stood at $174 billion in the US alone. There were more than 20,000 staffing agencies, hiring 16 million temporary workers annually. The industry's growing popularity indicates that it may have surpassed this value in the last two years.

Currently, organizations depend on these agencies mainly for hiring temporary staff. It reduces liabilities and gets the work done without too much expense. In the last 2-3 years, the gig economy has increased exponentially. About 35% of the US workforce or nearly 57 million people make up the gig economy today. The freelancers contribute to nearly 5% of the country’s GDP, which is $1 trillion approximately.

It is unwise to ignore such a high percentage of temporary workers, given the current circumstances. Already 33% of business owners are actively working with them.

But the difficulty lies in hiring and managing a gig workforce along with regular employees. Staffing agencies can make that easy.

Scroll on to know more reasons for working with staffing agencies regarding temporary workers:

Extensive network
The staffing agencies have an extensive network of professionals that they can appoint at any given time. Whenever you need temporary workers, you can get them immediately through the agency’s database. As they are hiring constantly, they can ensure skills and employability that match your expectations and requirements. The staffing agencies also collaborate with numerous job portals that help find the right candidates without much hassle.

Background checks
The staffing agencies run thorough background checks on each candidate before referring them to their clients. At times, they just tap into their database to find suitable professionals that they have already verified. Otherwise, they can use their sources to run thorough checks regarding employability, legality, and experience. From references to credit checks, the agencies leave no stone unturned while appointing gig workers. Hence, they reduce the hiring risks that companies may face while recruiting temporary staff. It may take a toll on the HR to find out everything about the candidate’s background otherwise.

Reduce upfront investment
Consulting with a staffing agency also saves hiring time and costs. A company can recruit multiple experts through a single staffing agency. It reduces the time needed to go through hundreds of applications, shortlist, and interview the candidates. Cutting down these processes into a single screening and interview session invariably reduces hiring costs. Besides, numerous agencies offer free training and mentoring guidance to the candidates, thus taking the load off the company’s shoulders.

Specialized hires
Generally, organizations hire temporary staff to complete specific short-term projects. These projects may require a definite skill set, qualifications, and experience. Weeding through resumes to find the right professionals can be troublesome for the hiring managers at companies who have other responsibilities as well. When the staffing agencies step in, everything falls in place. Using their network of skilled professionals, finding suitable candidates for the project gets easier. These agencies are also present on reliable job portals that help them get to such professionals faster.

Hiring flexibility
When hiring temporary workers through a staffing agency, the parent company does not have any liabilities. It is also free from making any commitment to the temporary staff. It can be different if they decide to search for professionals without any help. The candidates trust the agencies that they have been working with for so long. It may take some time to develop that trust for the parent company. What is the need to take all that trouble? Collaborating with a staffing agency can ensure higher flexibility. Further, the staffing agencies will also handle the onboarding and payroll requirements for the temporary workers. The company need not get involved in the paperwork as well.

Act as the mediator
Last but not least, the staffers act as a bridge between the temporary or contract employees and the company. Whatever the requirements of both parties, the agency can mediate and communicate to reach a common ground. They can even discuss commercials and settle disputes if any. It may be impossible for the company HR to get into such matters, as they have other responsibilities.

Ensuring Success with Staffing Agencies
With the help of staffing agencies, hiring and working with gig workers can be hassle-free. The inclusion of temporary workers into the regular workforce is a relatively new trend. It may take time for the companies to understand the nuances. Staffing firms also hire quickly and efficiently without requiring the company to intervene. Their awareness of the local market, the latest trends, and the availability of staff can help companies manage a mixed workforce seamlessly.