Finding skilled and professionally qualified workforce is no more a cakewalk in a competitive market where candidates are offered with lucrative pay packages and flexible work conditions by numerous employees. Staffing firms give easy solutions to fill vacancies from executive level to managerial level. Small and Medium Enterprises often look for temporary or temporary-to-permanent employees who can be hired at an economical rate.
Staffing agencies have seen an unprecedented boost in popularity due to the current economic stagnation. They offer pre-screened, pre-qualified staff with no long-term commitment required; and, that is exactly what employers need. There is no shortage of qualified workers; and, you don’t have to spend time and money sifting through resumes to find them.
Employers are typically delighted to hand over the recruitment process to an outside agency. They are literally swamped with resumes. The time and money it takes to go through them and the resulting interviews can seriously disrupt other critical duties.
Temporary agencies have been popular during economic downturns since the first one was started in 1946. Now, they are even more popular because they offer more types of workers than ever. Not only administrative staff and general labor are available, but specialists are as well. Qualified professionals like medical and legal staff can be found on short notice.
With our economic future unsure, making a commitment to additional staff can be daunting. With an agency, staff can be brought on as temporary, temp-to-perm, long and short-term contract, or as direct hire. That can be a big relief. Workers can be evaluated on the job while economic stability is waited out. There are a variety of services available to painlessly grow business without the risk associated hiring a regular employee.
Staffing agencies are the experts. According to the Houston Chronicle, “Employees of staffing agencies generally have a higher level of expertise related to job knowledge, employment trends and recruitment practices by virtue of continuous placement of employees.” This expertise is often unmatched within HR departments and is particularly useful in specialized fields. Staffing agencies can manage the entire employment process, freeing up both financial and human resources.
In the past, it was only larger corporations that turned to staffing agencies for help. There was a preconceived notion that small businesses could not afford temporary staff rates. It is simply not true. Rather than taking a chance on hiring full-time employees, a small business can greatly benefit from temporary staff. You can’t compete with a skeleton staff; and, you don’t have to. Plus, you can avoid the costs associated with pre-employment testing, background checks, and drug screening. According to the Los Angeles staffing agencies, “Our temporary staffing agency companies save thousands of dollars each year by eliminating many recruiting costs from their budgets.”
As the economy gets stronger, my prediction is that staffing agencies will continue to thrive. They have stepped up to the plate in times of need and exceeded expectations. They have carved out a niche that goes far beyond their historic role. It is no longer just about finding a secretary to fill in during a regular employee’s vacation or short leave. They provide a practical service that practically every business can benefit from.
Staffing agencies are popular because they are an immediate solution and a forward strategy. Employers can test the waters in a time and cost-effective manner, before fully committing to a larger staff. In the meantime, it’s business as usual.