5 Tips on How to Find The Right Skilled Trades Staffing Agency
The US workforce is just not what it used to be, plain and simple - with more and more companies fighting to achieve profitability amidst rising costs of material and labor.
These industry pressures require that employers have access to qualified workers - on hand - to keep up with spikes in available work, but also the flexibility to adapt to slow times.
Seasonality might also require a boost in labor immediately.
Take the construction industry as an example:
The amount of new building permits for construction is at its highest point since May 2007, growing at about 5.7% year-over-year. And with mortgage rates having dropped in 2019, you can expect this number to keep rising in the meantime.
But what does this mean for companies that need skilled labor at the drop of a hat?
If a company expects to meet demand, they will need to ramp up their workforce -- without the risk of having excess labor on payroll.
Finding The Right Skilled Trades Staffing Agency
This is where a staffing agency can be a true asset, allowing you to boost available skilled labor without having to commit to full-time positions.
Are you asking yourself, "How do I find a labor staffing company?"
Keep reading to learn about the true benefits of having access to temporary workers, and how to find a staffing agency for a company like yours.
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Get a Staffing Agency that is Industry-Specific
Now, you could find qualified employees one at a time through the traditional hiring process - but that requires hours of searching, job posting, qualifying candidates and then convincing them that your company and offer is the best choice.
While job searching is no joke, can you really trust your work deliverables to an employment agency with short term contract workers?
If it’s done properly - yes.
You can make sure that you get the best quality talent by only working with a staffing agency that specializes in your industry. This gives you access to skilled labor with the desired experience and training you need to get your project up-and-running with minimal issues.
After all, it doesn't make much sense to hire a tech-specific agency for your construction project.
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Make Sure the Temp Agency Handles Extra Costs
Top staffing agencies offer employee benefits like medical and dental insurance. This is a sign that they invest in their employees - and happier, more secure workers provide better productivity and quality workmanship.
But even more than that, a good staffing agency works to reduce your tax burden - taking on costs like FICA, FUTA and SUTA - as well as other major employer expenses like workers comp, PTO and much more.
Make sure you qualify this up front and that these elements are in your contract prior to signing.
Further reading on temp agencies and the staffing industry:
Top 4 Reasons Why Employers Can’t Find Skilled Workers
What You Need to Know About Temp Agencies
Top 3 US Staffing Industry Trends and Challenges For 2020
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Qualify their Industry Reputation
Have you checked their reputation online?
Doing a quick search on various platforms can uncover red flags and help you avoid a potentially bad relationship (and worse, costly employee turnover).
Some sites to investigate when you need to find out the reputation of an agency include:
- Glassdoor
- Monster
- Careers.com
If you need more feedback you can always ask the staffing agency for a referral to an existing or previous client of theirs. A company with a solid reputation should be willing to put you in touch with someone that can help you qualify their work.
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Ensure they are Properly Vetting Workers Up-Front
One of the most important points to look for in a staffing company is the depth in which they go when vetting their own applicants. They need to be thorough and complete with the on-boarding process. There are some key points to focus on:
- Background screening
- Drug testing
- Reference Checking
- Experience to match your project needs
- Proper Certifications and licenses
An employment agency with a massive pool of pre-qualified applicants can make sure to properly match skilled labor to your specific needs - they should leave nothing left for you to do with regards to vetting.
This is critical in making sure that you find employees that are top quality without the headaches of a traditional hiring process.
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Have a Dependable Point of Contact
This cannot be overstated - having a direct line to an account manager at a staffing agency can help streamline the process of hiring temporary workers and give you confidence knowing that you have the support you need to adapt to conditions in your workforce.
Staffing firms that give you access to a point of contact that has industry-specific experience can be a gamechanger for you - knowing what workers, with what experience and credentials, would be a good fit for your project.
After all, you can’t afford to leave your project in the hands of someone that doesn’t understand your needs - if it’s going to work then they need to be an extension of your hiring process.
Skilled Trades Industry Solutions
Not all staffing agencies are created equal, which is why it's important to take your time and vet each one carefully. Your project has both budgetary and time constraints, with minimal opportunity for error caused by poor workmanship and a sloppy hiring process.
But with skilled labor in short supply across the United States, your business needs solutions that can help you adapt to ever-changing market conditions.
Having this checklist will help make sure that you’re not bogged down in paper work trying to find your own candidates, and that you don’t have to deal with the cost and inconvenience of employee turnover.
The good news is once you’ve found staffing professionals that you can count on, confidently increasing and decreasing your labor force becomes a breeze.
If you’re looking for a staffing company that fits the bill contact Elite Force now. We have temporary skilled labor that is hyper-focused in the construction industry and ready to fill short to long-term contracts, or permanent, full-time jobs.