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 New Jersey

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 New Jersey to help you, and reduce your risk of an unsuccessful hire.

The Top 11 Staffing Agencies in New Jersey in 2024

New Jersey staffing agencies help find and place employees at companies like yours. Most NJ employment agencies focus on temporary staff members, who could be working at your location for anywhere from several weeks to several months.

The best temp agencies NJ uses typically specialize in specific industries, rather than placing employees at any company. This occurs mainly because NJ employment agencies can only learn so many different sectors at a time. Finding data entry specialists, for example, is very different from managing qualified accountants.

Below, you will find our recommendations for the best staffing agencies in New Jersey.

1. Toptal

Visit Website

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:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2010

CEO:

Taso Du Val

Areas of specialities:

Served Regions:

Global

2. Robert Half

Visit Website

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:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1948

CEO:

Harold Messmer Jr

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

3. Adecco

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1996

CEO:

Alain Dehaze

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

4. Express Employment Professionals

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1983

CEO:

Robert A. Funk

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

5. Manpower

Visit Website

With years of experience and a global presence, Manpower is enriching people's lives with meaningful employment and development opportunities. To ensure they serve their clients and candidates in the best way possible, the company has aligned itself with partners that both enhance and expand their offerings, including ones for recent graduates and veterans.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1948

CEO:

Jonas Prising

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

6. Aerotek

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1983

CEO:

Todd M. Mohr

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

7. Snelling Staffing Services

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1951

CEO:

Lee Elkinson

Areas of specialities:

Healthcare, Human Resources

Served Regions:

U.S.-only

8. Insight Global

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2001

CEO:

Bert Bean

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

9. Aquent

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1986

CEO:

John Chuang

Areas of specialities:

Design & Creative, Human Resources, Marketing

Served Regions:

Global

10. Mondo

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2000

CEO:

Tim Johnson

Areas of specialities:

Design & Creative, Marketing

Served Regions:

U.S.-only

11. Kforce

Visit Website

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.

General Score:

Brand Recognition:

Reputation:

Influence & Leadership:

Site Experience:

YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1962

CEO:

David Dunkel

Areas of specialities:

Finance, Healthcare, IT

Served Regions:

Global

New Jersey Staffing Guide

How much do staffing agencies charge companies in New Jersey?

Prices vary based on various factors, such as the agency in question and the role of the employee you’re hiring. In most cases, New Jersey staffing agencies charge 12 percent to 50 percent of the employee’s salary, with the percentage decreasing as the employee is paid more.

Staffing agencies usually work with moderately-skilled employees, including office workers and similar professionals, so it’s rare to pay at the higher end of the scale. They know that if their costs are too high, you won’t want to hire anyone, and market competition helps keep prices reasonable.

How are staffing agencies paid?

Payment to staffing agencies varies by company. However, most employment agencies get payment directly from your company, subtract their fees, and give the rest to the employee(s) you hired through them. This is a simplification, but it is generally how it works.

In other cases, staffing agencies may get paid separately from the employees. However, this is less common because they have a vested interest in knowing how much an employee is getting paid so they can get the fee they’re charging you.

As an employer, should I hire and use a staffing agency in New Jersey?

As mentioned above, that depends on whether or not you need their services. Situations vary by company, but in general, here are the reasons you should or shouldn’t use a staffing agency in New Jersey.

You should use a staffing agency if:

You need to get a skilled employee on the job as quickly as possible
You want to avoid having an open position while you search for a permanent employee
You have a short-term project that requires someone with specialized skills

You should not use a staffing agency if:

You do not have the revenue to cover increased hiring costs
You’re trying to improve your brand as an employer through direct hiring
You have company culture gaps that may not mesh with temporary employees

As an employer, how do I choose a staffing agency to work with in New Jersey?

The best way to choose between NJ employment agencies is to evaluate them based on the following factors:

Cost
Experience placing employees in similar roles
Reviews of the company
Size of the company

Which of these factors is the most important depends on your status and needs. For example, if you have plenty of money to spend and want to take the time to search for good employees, the cost isn’t an important factor. However, if your budget is tight, then the cost could be a significant factor.

Experience is usually the most important factor when looking at the staffing agencies NJ companies can use. If a company has a long history of placing employees at companies where those employees are a good match, chances are they understand the unique needs of the industry they focus on and can make sound judgments to help you.

Size is difficult to quantify for the best temp agencies NJ companies use. Should we measure staffing agencies NJ companies like by the number of potential recruits they have access to? What about the number of employees they place, or their revenue, or how many employees they have as a company?

What jobs are in demand in New Jersey?

According to Zippia, a major employment company, the following are among the jobs most in-demand in New Jersey. This list is determined by a combination of the total number of jobs and their recent speed of growth; a job with immense growth, but a comparatively low number of positions won’t be on this list.

Home Health Aide
Personal Care Assistant
Electrician
Food Runner
Software Developer
Business Analyst
Certified Nursing Assistant
Restaurant Crew Member

Medical jobs are particularly notable openings in New Jersey. As a result, they’re a primary focus for staffing agencies New Jersey companies can use. There weren’t enough healthcare workers to satisfy demand before the novel coronavirus started, and given the long-term damage to lungs that disease can cause, demand for health professionals is likely to remain high.

What is the job market like in New Jersey?

As of the middle of 2020, the job market in New Jersey - like everywhere else - is in disarray because of the coronavirus's impacts. However, generational pandemics aside, businesses will do better to look at the state's long-term trends and what the opportunities are after COVID-19.

In that context, New Jersey is about average for a job market. It usually performs somewhere in the mid-20’s for overall job growth and slightly outpaces overall wage growth. It’s hard to call this a good position because it objectively isn’t, but it’s also not a bad place for the state to be.

Rate of employment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey has an unemployment rate of around 16.6 percent as of June 2020. However, the novel coronavirus is an aberration in employment numbers and is not a good indicator of the normal rate of employment in the state.

Historically, the state has trended closer to a 3.8 percent unemployment rate, which is comfortably low by economic standards.

Number of people searching for jobs in New Jersey

Determining the actual number of people seeking jobs is difficult for many reasons, including the fact that there are no comprehensive databases. While we can roughly estimate the number of people aiming to get jobs based on factors like population and unemployment rate, this doesn’t take into account things like people from other states looking to move to New Jersey.

With that in mind, the comparatively low unemployment rate in New Jersey means that there are a decent number of jobs and enough people looking for them to fill them. The state does not have fantastic growth, but it is a little above average.

Percentage of temporary/staffing workers in New Jersey

The percent of temporary workers across all industries is, like the number of people searching for jobs, difficult to calculate precisely. However, a study found that more than 60% of workers at some sites were temporary.

The numbers are especially high around the Port of Newark, whose frequently-changing work needs mean that many staffing agencies work specifically to serve it and provide only as many workers as companies working at the port require.

Business climate in New Jersey

The overall business climate in New Jersey is poor, despite growth in some areas. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) considers it the least competitive state in the region, with higher costs of living and affordability challenges contributing to this issue.

Large companies and industries in New Jersey

Some of the largest companies in New Jersey include:

Johnson & Johnson
Conduent
Merck & Co.
Bed Bath and Beyond
Automatic Data Processing
Newell Brands

Industry details

Major industries in New Jersey include:

Pharmaceuticals
Financial Services
Advanced Manufacturing
Transportation
Logistics

What are the best companies to work for in New Jersey?

People have different views of what makes a company the best place to work. However, companies that are popular among their current and former employees include:

PTC Therapeutics
Johnson & Johnson
Zoetis
BMW
Mars, Inc.

Major employment hubs of the area (North, Central, South)

The major employment hubs of New Jersey include:

North: Trade and logistics, thanks to the Port of Newark and proximity to New York City
Central: Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals, especially in the New Brunswick area
South: Entertainment, particularly around the Atlantic City region

New Jersey Growth and Population

New Jersey has approximately 9 million residents, although growth has slowed over the last few years. Most of its new population concentrates in the northern part of the state, where the thriving trade and transportation industries are continuing to grow.

Conclusion: Is it worth using a New Jersey Staffing Agency?

That depends entirely on your needs as a company. In general, it is worth going to a temp agency if you have a staffing problem they can alleviate and the money to afford their services.

New Jersey staffing agencies are particularly useful when you want to get someone with professional skills as soon as possible. Many companies do this to cover gaps in services, particularly when they’re looking for a permanent staff member.

Alternatively, you may be able to hire a temp into a permanent position by paying a fee to the temp company (contingent on the employee’s acceptance, of course). This can simplify the hiring process if you have a lot of roles you need to fill.

See below to search for a specialized staffing agency in New Jersey