How do you onboard a contractor?

Before they arrive, arrange for orientation paperwork such as the I-9, W-4, or W-9. You may also want an employee handbook for contract workers, along with any benefits information. Also, set up team introductions, share the company vision, and then begin with specific training on the tasks that are needed.

What is contractor onboarding?

This is the process for temporary employees, contract workers, and freelancers to get acclimated to your company, culture, and priorities. It should cover the tasks they will be working on in addition to access to software, compensation paperwork, and other considerations to help them do their job well.

Is onboarding important for staffing and contract employees?

Onboarding helps improve employee retention . Gallup cites SHRM, the society for human resource management, on the statistic that employee turnover can be as much as 50% in the first 18 months. It’s important for your contract employees to get a glimpse of your culture and priorities so they can be productive while working for your company.

Are staffing agencies worth it?

Staffing agencies are all different. They can specialize in certain placements, such as tech or medical or general office. They can focus on direct placements or short-term projects or some combination of both. They have the potential to save you time and money during the hiring process. It all depends on the agency you use, their past history of success, and if they attract the type of contractors you need.

What are the benefits of staffing agencies?

Staffing agencies provide short-term and seasonal work to lessen the burden of employing full-time workers who may only be needed for a few short months. Staffing agencies also mitigate the risk of making a bad hire, and gives you greater access to talent, allowing you to fill positions faster.

What are the cons of staffing agencies?

When you use a staffing agency, the incoming contract worker may not fit your company culture, and very often, no one has spoken to the candidate before they appear for work. Companies often do not know the full work background of a staffing employee. And because of the short-term nature of staffing, the training may be incomplete.

What questions should I ask when choosing a staffing agency?

Ask about their experience, interview-to-hire ratio, their certifications and their onboarding process. Ask for any referrals or case studies from other clients to judge the staffing agency.

How can you review the staffing agency’s record with previous clients?

If you ask the agency, they will refer you to testimonials on their website—which they have already curated—or put you in touch with a previous client that they know had a fantastic result. This can be helpful, but you may also want to contact those past clients directly. Sites like Glassdoor, TrustRadius, or other review sites, like Best Staffing Agencies , may also help.

Find the best staffing agency in Chicago

There are more than 20,000 staffing agencies in the United States. We've developed a free ranking algorithm to grade staffing agencies on a wide set of factors. You'll find the very best staffing agency in Chicago to help you, and reduce your risk of an unsuccessful hire.

The Top 11 Staffing Agencies in Chicago in 2024

Throughout recent years, Chicago and its extending suburbs has had steady job growth, with a 2.9 percent rate in 2019 besting that of the national average as a whole. Because of that immense growth and numerous opportunities, your company may need an outside staffing agency to help you find, recruit and enlist new candidates for your most in-demand jobs in the Chicago area.

Many staffing agencies have multiple locations, which make it simple for you to find and connect with talent from different parts of the city.

The team at Best Staffing Agencies has researched and reviewed the largest firms in Chicago and believes that these agencies can meet your hiring needs.

Here's our selection of the top staffing agencies in Chicago:

1. Toptal

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Toptal boasts a wide array of the industry’s elite tech and business talent, but it is unlike many other staffing agencies. Most of their talent work remotely from across the world. Initially conceived as freelance marketplace, Toptal has evolved as a preferred staffing destination for leading Fortune 500 companies to bring in the very best. Toptal began with only tech experts, but, over the years, they expanded their network to include finance experts, designers, and more. Companies are paired with a talent matcher who then finds the best talent for that company, working on hourly, part-time, or full-time contracts.

General Score:

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2010

CEO:

Taso Du Val

Areas of specialities:

Served Regions:

Global

2. Robert Half

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Robert Half offers businesses a full spectrum of specialized staffing and consulting solutions. They also help candidates find career opportunities where they can fit and thrive.
The company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and is a member of the S&P 500 index. It has been recognized nationally for its work.

General Score:

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1948

CEO:

Harold Messmer Jr

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

3. Adecco

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Adecco is one of the world’s largest human resource and staffing firms. Adecco connects thousands of professionals with some of the top global employers. Adecco has more than 50 years of experience in staffing and recruitment. Adecco services talent requirements across accounting, marketing, hospitality, customer service, retail, administrative, manufacturing, and other fields.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1996

CEO:

Alain Dehaze

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

4. Express Employment Professionals

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Express Employment Professionals is a privately held internationally franchised company with hundreds of franchised locations all over the world. They help companies and candidates find good fits for their staffing and career needs. The firm offers a full range of employment solutions including temporary staffing, evaluation hire, professional search, and human resources for businesses across borders. The team at Express helps its clients meet a wide range of positions including industrial, administrative, professional, and more.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1983

CEO:

Robert A. Funk

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

5. Aerotek

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Aerotek began as an engineering staffing solution for aerospace and defense industries. These roots are what gave the company its name. Aerotek is ranked as one of the largest staffing firms in the U.S. for engineering and clinical/scientific industries. Staffing Industry Analysts has named Aerotek as one of the largest staffing firms for accounting and financing.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1983

CEO:

Todd M. Mohr

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

6. Snelling Staffing Services

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Since 1951, Snelling has offered innovative staffing and recruitment solutions. Their commitment to both client and candidate success is the driving force behind their longevity. By combining award-winning history with industry-leading technology, their experts have what it takes to solve your complex staffing challenges.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1951

CEO:

Lee Elkinson

Areas of specialities:

Healthcare, Human Resources

Served Regions:

U.S.-only

7. Insight Global

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Insight Global is a premier provider of employment and staffing solutions to several Fortune 1000 customers across the United States and Canada. They provide long-term contracts, short-term contracts, temporary-to-permanent, direct placement, and enhanced staffing services.
Insight Global specializes in placing contract job seekers into information technology, accounting and finance, engineering (non-IT), and government jobs. Since their inception in 2001, they have experienced growth within their industry, rapidly expanding from an Atlanta-based start-up to one of the most successful staffing firms in America.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2001

CEO:

Bert Bean

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

8. Aquent

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Aquent is known for assisting some of the world’s largest, most innovative brands and is a team ready to tackle any challenge with speed and determination. They work diligently to understand your specific goals and to help you hire permanent, temp to perm, freelance, embedded, or outsourced help that delivers breakthrough customer experience.
By aligning their account services team by industry, Aquent delivers quick, effective solutions by identifying the talent who will already understand your exact needs. Their network of high-quality, innovating talent covers dozens of digital marketing roles, including UX, digital marketing, and more.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1986

CEO:

John Chuang

Areas of specialities:

Design & Creative, Human Resources, Marketing

Served Regions:

Global

9. Avenica

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Founded in 1998, Avencia offers simple, effective, yet expert resourcing to a wide range of clients. Their team has expertise in the entry-level professional job market and is the only national firm focusing on recruiting and hiring college graduates.
With seven regional offices and relationships with hundreds of colleges across the country, Avenica has filled positions throughout the U.S. and has made the entry-level hiring market more efficient based on extensive research in the entry-level job market.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1998

CEO:

Scott Dettman

Areas of specialities:

Engineering

Served Regions:

Chicago

10. Mondo

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With nearly two decades of experience and offices nationwide, Mondo helps candidates find full-time, freelance, or contractual work with some of the best organizations. They have a high fulfillment rate and a fast fill time. They help solve the most challenging talent gaps at midsize to enterprise-level companies, along with recently VC-funded startups facing mass hiring challenges and organizations facing hiring needs.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2000

CEO:

Tim Johnson

Areas of specialities:

Design & Creative, Marketing

Served Regions:

U.S.-only

11. Kforce

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Kforce provides excellent results through strategic partnership and knowledge sharing. As a leading staffing services firm specializing in technology, finance, and accounting, Kforce fully engages its network of professionals. They have successfully fulfilled contract jobs and direct hire needs for thousands of employers, including a high number from the Fortune 100.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1962

CEO:

David Dunkel

Areas of specialities:

Finance, Healthcare, IT

Served Regions:

Global

Chicago Staffing Guide

Hiring high-quality staff is challenging for all types of businesses. Whether you’re new in your niche or are a long-standing leader in the industry, you no doubt recognize the importance of good people. Finding the right candidates is time-consuming and often fruitless, especially when competition for talent is high.

To solve the dilemma of recruiting for roles across their companies, many business owners are turning to Chicago staffing agencies for support. Temp or employment agencies connect qualified and pre-screened candidates with the companies that need them.

Instead of sorting through resumes and spending days or weeks on interviews, you can outsource the work. At the same time, you reap the benefits of a reliable and professional workforce. Staffing agencies in Chicago also offer a suite of services, spanning everything from recruiting for high-level positions to placing seasonal and part-time staff.

In this article, we’ll explore what’s happening in the Chicago job market and how staffing agencies can meet your company’s needs. We’ll examine statistics and must-know facts about the employment rate in Chicago, what industries are the most competitive, and how to source the best staffing agency to round out your workforce.

Chicago’s Business Climate

Though improvements have surfaced in recent years, Chicago has a reputation for being supremely unfriendly to small businesses. Its overall grade is a C+ and stems from challenges such as strict licensing requirements, high taxes, and hiring roadblocks.

However, the good news is that times are changing—and Chicago still offers plenty of perks for businesses and workers alike. For example, the economy in Chicago is diverse, and the community features an excellent quality of life to cost of living ratio. Therefore, Chicago is an exceptional place to work and do business.

Jobs in High Demand in Chicago

A range of healthcare and business jobs are in high demand across Chicago. The top ten include:

Operations Analyst
Web Developer
Software Developer
Home Health Aide
Occupational Therapy Aide
Veterinary Technician
Nurse Practitioner
Business Analyst
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Software Engineer

Of those, roles in Occupational Therapy have the fewest jobs available, making them competitive sectors for applicants. In contrast, projected growth estimates over 40,000 jobs in Home Health will be available by 2024, making it a peak time for workers to change roles.

Essential Facts on the Job Market in Chicago

Running a business in Chicago can be both challenging and rewarding. Looking at the details of the job market in the area can shed light on your company’s potential for growth and expansion. It can also provide perspective on hiring strategies and trends, whether you use an employment agency or not.

Non-farm employment in Chicago was up .6 percent in 2019, with job counts increasing by 1.5 percent at the same time. Not surprisingly, education and health services sectors added the most jobs throughout the year. According to the same report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment in the Chicago area dropped from 3.9 percent in 2018 to 3.2 percent in 2019. This could indicate an increase in competition for qualified applicants.
Over 40 percent of jobs that entered the Chicago economy between 2009 and 2013 were temporary jobs. At that point, 63 percent of warehouse workers were in temporary roles.
Throughout Illinois, staffing agencies placed nearly 1.5 million candidates in local jobs. The most popular staffing agency placements were in industrial, engineering/IT and scientific, and office-clerical and admin positions.
Fortune 500 companies like Boeing, Archer Daniels Midland, United Continental Holdings, Exelon, AbbVie, Conagra Brands, and Motorola Solutions call Chicago home. These corporations employ thousands (or more) of workers at locations throughout the city.
According to reviews from employees via Glassdoor, the best places to work in Chicago include Bain & Company, DocuSign, Sammons Financial, VIPKid, Google, LinkedIn, Boston Consulting Group, Trader Joe’s, Salesforce, and many more large and small companies.
For workers in the Chicago area, it’s common to face a commute of nearly an hour. The length earns Chicago the ranking of third-longest commute among the larger cities in the nation. However, surveys find that the commute is less stressful than comparable cities, which is good news for businesses recruiting far-flung workers.
While many cities are expecting growth in the coming decades, Chicago has recently shrunk. The population has dropped consistently for the last few years, and Cook County has seen a negative net migration rate for the last 27 years.
Per the US Census Bureau, Chicago currently has a population of over 2.5 million people, with around 66 percent of those of employment age.

Staffing Agencies in Chicago

With the competitive nature of the employment market in Chicago, it’s understandable that companies are seeking help via talent agencies. The good news is that there are countless agencies to choose from, enabling you to outsource staffing responsibilities with the guarantee of quality candidates.

Plus, per the Illinois Department of Labor, employment agencies must maintain a license with the state to stay in business. Investigation, licensing, and regulatory requirements ensure the protection of both job seekers and business owners. Here we’ll look at what staffing companies are available, how to choose one, and how fee schedules work when working with a temp agency.

What Are the Biggest Staffing Agencies in Chicago?

Some of the biggest names in staffing across Chicago include Toptal, Robert Half, and Adecco. But choosing the right agency for your company’s needs requires some legwork. Not every company will be the ideal fit, regardless of their ranking. We’ll go over how to choose an agency below.

How to Choose a Staffing Agency in Chicago

The best recruitment agency in Chicago is one that offers the services and support your organization needs. You will need to partner with an agency that understands what you’re looking for in a qualified candidate and can source professionals promptly and on budget. Here is what to consider when selecting a company to partner with.

Scope of expertise: While many recruitment agencies offer “general” placements for a variety of industries, your niche may require specific expertise. If you are in the technology sector, for example, finding an agency that recognizes the importance of experience and industry-specific credentials for IT professionals is vital.

Reputation: You should consider both reviews from job seekers and companies when comparing talent agencies. When possible, try to speak with those who have direct experience with the agency in question. Reading reviews can provide insight as well but take those with a grain of salt.

Credibility: In Chicago, employment agencies must maintain licensure. You should investigate the credentials of the temp agency and find out whether there are complaints about the business.

Experience: In addition to expertise in your niche, a temp agency should also offer experts (or an organizational framework) with a strong track record. Inquire about success rates with candidate placement and ask how the agency handles employees that may turn out to be a poor fit.

Range of services: While recruitment is part of the package, temp agency services vary. You may have a specific window during which you can request a different worker, or you may need to pay more to replace someone who isn’t a good fit. Some agencies offer follow-up assistance, emergency staffing coverage, or post-employment support for job seekers and companies alike.

How Are Staffing Agencies Paid?

While temp agency rates vary widely, depending on your industry and their service scope, you can expect to pre-pay for recruiting support. Some agencies work on a commission type basis, where the fees amount to a percentage of the employee’s first-year wages.

Depending on the employee’s role and their agreement with the recruiting agency, they may owe an amount as well. A candidate who invests in finding the proper placement is often appealing to companies, and they may reduce the business owner’s recruiting costs, too.

In other cases, you may be able to pick and choose a suite of services according to your budget. For example, if you need a handful of seasonal employees in a hurry, those costs will be vastly different than the fees to replace a high-level IT professional in a permanent position.

Many business owners worry over the up-front costs of hiring a temp agency. They wonder, is it worth going to a temp agency in Chicago? The answer is typically a resounding “yes.” Outsourcing your recruiting and hiring efforts means more time to dedicate to other responsibilities. With professional support from a staffing agency, you can worry less about your people and focus on the business side of operations.

Final Thoughts

Chicago’s declining population and competitive employment market can prove challenging for business owners to navigate. At the same time, the healthcare and technology industries continue to grow, proving that Chicago is still an ideal place to live and work.

Recruitment agencies can offer a competitive edge to businesses in the area. Whether you’re just starting out or have a mature company that needs a fresh staff, the right employment agency can boost your business performance.

Partnering with the right professionals can mean an easier time recruiting—and keeping—the high-quality staff you need for a business that will thrive.

See below to search for a specialized staffing agency in Chicago