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I think it’s safe to say many people assume staffing and recruiting are the same thing. I mean, they’re both words which describe the action of hiring someone so they must be the same, right? Not exactly. While they both refer to filling a job vacancy, the two otherwise couldn’t be more different. Both in terms of who is doing the hiring, and the type of candidates being sought out. Let’s take a deeper look at the difference between staffing and recruiting.   What is Staffing?   So, what is the difference between staffing and recruitment? Staffing refers to the process of hiring temporary workers to fill short term roles. This could be a large company needing wait staff for an outdoor barbecue, or a small office trying to cover a permanent employee’s maternity leave.  Staffing is typically done using a staffing agency (surprise, surprise) and focuses on potential candidates who are actively looking for work. Staffing is best used for: Filling short term, temporary jobs Filling many temporary jobs with qualified candidates in a short amount of time Filling roles which don’t require specific skills or extensive training Staffing agencies often work within limited budgets, as they hire for a lot of lower level and unskilled labor roles that don’t have as high requirements. A good agency will have a large selection of candidates to fill various types of jobs, who are ready and willing to work on short notice. This is a huge benefit for companies because it eliminates most of the time and guesswork associated with finding suitable workers. A staffing agency can also help a company achieve cost savings. Temporary workers don’t always require things like health benefits or 401k plans, and the worker’s pay is almost always handled by the agency. When it comes to staffing vs recruiting in the construction industry, staffing agencies are more prominent than recruitment firms since construction work is often contract or project-based.  What is Recruiting?   Recruiting, sometimes known as headhunting, differs from staffing in that it usually takes a candidate-first approach.  Instead of posting a job and having active job seekers apply, a recruiter will often listen to what a company needs and then reach out to a shortlist of qualified professionals. Many of whom are passive candidates, meaning candidates who are already employed or aren’t actively looking for work.     Due to the nature of recruiting, it’s useful for finding upper management and other high-level employees. Education and experience aside, candidates who are recruited are often brought in to improve a company’s culture and are given the power to do so. Their management style and vision are equally as important as their skills and training. Recruitment is best used for: Injecting unique talent into your team to help direct a new project  Finding professionals to improve upper management Garnering exceptional talent from your competitors or other industries When you’re more focused on leadership and culture, rather than compensation and filling a gap Recruiting can be done in-house, although it usually only happens in medium to large-sized organizations that have the resources to do so. Many companies prefer to outsource this to a dedicated recruiter agency, as it can be difficult and time-consuming trying to lure passive candidates. As with staffing, agency recruiters usually have a large pool of talent to choose from. However, it’s a longer, more delicate hiring process than staffing as it requires feeling out potential candidates and ensuring a mutual fit. Who Provides These Services?   Now that you understand the difference between recruitment and staffing, we’ll discuss some of the major players. Here are 3 of the largest firms: Randstad. Founded in the Netherlands in 1960, Randstad is a multinational human resources consulting firm. They specialize in services for temporary and permanent jobs, contract staffing, and senior manager searches. Randstad currently operates more than 4800 branches in 39 countries. Adecco. The Adecco group was founded in 1996 in Switzerland. Along with providing temporary and permanent placement, Adecco provides services for career transition, talent development, and business process consulting. They currently operate 5200 locations in over 60 countries. Robert Half. Robert Half International was founded in 1948 in New York City but is now headquartered in Menlo Park, California. They are the world’s first and largest accounting and finance staffing firm, operating 324 branches worldwide. They specialize in staffing admin, IT, marketing, and law workers. Other than being known as the top firms in the world, these three share another common trait: none of them focus specifically on construction staffing.    Why You Need an Industry-Specific Staffing Service   Now, you might be asking yourself: “Why does it matter if a staffing service is industry-specific?” While this may not be as much of an issue if you’re looking for office workers or marketing specialists, construction is a whole different ball game.  It’s critical that an agency understands your needs in order to avoid disastrous mistakes. For example, commercial electricians typically follow a three-phase approach to wiring. Sending in a residential electrician, who is accustomed to using single-phase power supplies, could end up being costly for you — in terms of time, money, and human safety. Elite Force is hyper-focused on the construction industry and will ensure that you receive qualified talent for your projects, including electricians, mechanical conveyor installers, millwrights, welders, concrete workers, and more.   With Elite Force, you get: Account managers who understand your industry, and are OSHA 30 certified 50+ years of experience in construction staffing/recruiting Two OSHA authorized construction trainers on staff, ensuring the safety of your workers on your job site A large pool of qualified candidates Your success is something we take seriously, and we’re focused on achieving excellence in every single placement. Partnering quality companies with quality tradespeople is what we do. Get Skilled Labor Sent to Your Project Anywhere in the USA Talk to a Staffing Expert Today

Do you enjoy working with your hands? Is the thought of a desk job unappealing to you? Would you like a career that’ll be in demand for years to come? If you answered yes to these questions, a skilled trades career might be just what you’re looking for. Let us help you better understand what skilled labor trades are and why they’re important to the economy. Skilled trade workers are hands-on and require extensive specialized training. It’s physically demanding and there are times you’ll have to battle the elements, but it’s also rewarding work that offers high earning potential. Skilled vs Unskilled Workers Our society depends heavily on skilled workers. And there is a big difference between unskilled workers and skilled workers in America. Without skilled workers, we wouldn’t have roads, schools, workplaces or homes. They’re responsible for building and maintaining the very foundations of our lives. Skilled trade workers are also crucial to the US economy. In 2019, the construction industry alone contributed 4.1 percent of the country’s GDP.  The Shift from Blue-Collar to White-collar Professions As newer generations focus more on earning bachelor’s degrees, this has led to a sharp decline in the number of young people entering skilled trades. Couple that with retiring baby boomers leaving the industry, and it poses real challenges ahead. In fact, 70% of construction companies report they’re having difficulty finding qualified craftsmen who make up the bulk of the skilled labor construction workforce. If these trends continue, we can expect significant project delays and construction companies refusing to bid on smaller jobs in the future. So if you’ve decided to get into the skilled trades—great! We need you. The Most In-Demand Careers in the US right now: Electricians Electricians are responsible for designing, installing, and maintaining electrical wiring systems. They work in a wide range of environments, including houses, high-rises, and commercial and industrial buildings. Their services are essential to everyday life, as we’d have no way to power things like electronic devices, refrigerators, or manufacturing machines without them. 2019 Median Pay – $56,180 per year/$27.01 per hour Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 10% growth Requirements – 4-year apprenticeship and a journeyman electrician license Associations: Independent Electrical Contractors National Electrical Contractors Association Welders Welders use extreme heat and gas to fuse metal together, and repair holes in metal structures. Welders work pretty much everywhere — construction, manufacturing plants, and industrial factories. They even work underwater to repair ship hulls, ocean oil rigs, and other aquatic structures. 2019 Median Pay – $42,490 per year/$20.42 per hour Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 3% growth Requirements – Although certification is not mandatory, it’s strongly recommended to do an apprenticeship (about 3 years) and get certified through the American Welding Society (AWS) Associations: American Welding Society   Carpenters Carpenters are skilled craftsmen who work with a variety of wood products. They tackle projects big and small, from designing entire building frames (known as rough carpenters) to crafting custom cabinets and furniture (known as finish carpenters). 2019 Median Pay – $48,330 per year/$23.24 per hour Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 8% growth Requirements – Not mandatory, but a 3-4 year apprenticeship is recommended Associations: The United Brotherhood of Carpenters National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Source: Freepik.com)   Plumbers Plumbers specialize in the installation, maintenance, and repair of piping used for drinking water, sewage, and drainage. They work with any appliance that uses water, such as sinks, bathtubs, toilets, refrigerators, and washing machines. As with electricians, honest and reliable plumbers are essential to our everyday lives…as things would get messy without them. 2019 Median Pay – $55,160 per year/$26.52 per hour Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 14% growth Requirements – 4-5 year apprenticeship, with most states requiring a plumber’s license Associations: United Association American Society of Plumbing Engineers Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association   Millwrights Millwrights (sometimes referred to as industrial machinery mechanics or conveyor installers) assemble, install, repair, and dismantle heavy machinery across many different industries. They need to be highly skilled and incredibly precise while following detailed technical plans. Millwrights often operate large trucks and cranes to carry out their duties. 2019 Median Pay – $52,850 per year/$25.41 per hour Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 5% growth Requirements – 3-4 year apprenticeship to be considered qualified Associations: Millwright Employers Association UBC Millwrights   Concrete Finishers (Cement Masons) Concrete finishers (or Masons) place, finish, protect, and repair concrete. Unfinished concrete is thick and sticky and needs to be constantly mixed to prevent hardening. Workers create temporary or permanent forms into which they pour concrete so it can harden and be finished. Concrete is the most commonly used man-made material on earth, and the building block on which our roads and cities are built. 2019 Median Pay – $46,500 per year/$22.35 per hour   Job Outlook (2018-2028) – 11% growth Requirements – None required, but aspiring masons typically do a 3-4 year apprenticeship Associations: American Society of Concrete Contractors American Concrete Institute (Source: Freepik.com) Do I need to attend school to pursue a trade? Completing a skilled trades apprenticeship is almost always mandatory, whereas trade school is not. Here are some points for you to consider:   Pros Trade school provides a foundation of knowledge for whichever trade you’d like to do Can help set you apart from other apprentice applicants Usually cheaper than going to college or university Offers flexible learning options, such as online, night, and weekend classes Cons Not mandatory Depending on the program, tuition fees can be expensive Less opportunity for financial aid than standard colleges Limited future career options Although it’s recommended, there are certain situations where you may not need to attend a trade school. For example: if you’ve been learning carpentry from a family member since a young age, you might be able to skip it and go straight to an apprenticeship. Otherwise, trade school provides the foundation of knowledge that’ll help jumpstart your career. Education is almost always a plus. Be sure to weigh your options carefully and research different programs and courses.