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 York

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

The Top 11 Staffing Agencies in New York in 2024

In New York City, more than a million workers freelance each year. That’s an amazing number that could make New York City the freelance capital of the United States.

Though several freelancers use their personal networks and referrals to generate freelance income, another way to tap into that pool of talent is by using staffing firms to help your company find contractors, temp workers, or potentially full-time hires.

With that much available freelance talent available, New York has several top-notch staffing firms to connect you with that talent.

Through our research, we have listed below the best staffing firms in New York City and how you can connect with them.

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

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.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

2010

CEO:

Taso Du Val

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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.

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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. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Jobspring Partners

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Jobspring Partners offers deep expertise in the highest demand tech skill sets, such as UI/UX, open source, mobile, Microsoft development, data science, AI, DevOps/Infrastructure, and network security. Their high-touch, highly specialized teams, create rich networks and amass in-depth knowledge of localized technology markets; resulting in a truly consultative approach and an exemplary track record of results.
Jobspring Partners for contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire can be found across the country. They currently have offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Toronto.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1989

CEO:

Beth Gilfeather

Areas of specialities:

Engineering, IT

Served Regions:

U.S.-only

9. 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

10. 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

11. Randstad

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Randstad has earned a reputation for combining innovative HR technology with human insight to power solutions like on-site management, RPO, and outplacement services. They take a personal approach to technology consulting and deliver solutions for the projects and challenges your IT organization is facing.
Randstad provides independent studies of employers and employees and gathers objective workforce data to help you understand the workforce and propel your business.

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YEAR OF FOUNDATION:

1960

CEO:

Jacques van den Broek

Areas of specialities:

General

Served Regions:

Global

New York City Staffing Guide

Staffing a business takes a lot of time and careful consideration. The right employees can make or break your staff—and your company’s success. At the same time, most business owners don’t have time to screen resumes and schedule interviews, let alone dedicate hours each workweek to filling open positions.

One solution to this dilemma is relying on an NYC employment agency to do the work for you. Staffing agencies—or temp agencies—place pre-screened and professional employees with your organization. They can fill a range of position types across all industries, taking the pressure off business owners to source talent.

Whether you have a new or established business in the New York City area, finding a staffing agency to supply your workforce is a smart decision. However, there’s a lot of information companies need to know before they begin working with a temp agency in NYC.

From the current business market in New York City to what questions to ask a prospective employment agency, this staffing guide can point you in the right direction.

The Business Climate in NYC

New York City is an epicenter of growth and expansion. However, the state of New York is relatively unfriendly to business, with high tax rates and complex regulatory requirements. Therefore, doing business in NYC can be a challenge, even before you begin hiring staff.

There are over two million small businesses in the state, not to mention larger corporations in and around NYC. The abundance of opportunities means a competitive market for job seekers. Employers need to be savvy about recruiting the top candidates—and offering attractive compensation packages to match.

Jobs In New York City

All manner of industries thrive in New York City, thanks to the bustling metropolis’ growing population and the demand for products and services. But the six top industries that drive the most growth as of 2019 include:

Financial services
Healthcare
Professional/technical services
Retail trade
Manufacturing
Educational services

NYC also has a reputation for its real estate, insurance, and media and publishing career offerings. Businesses in these areas may find New York to be particularly welcoming—with a large talent pool to siphon from.

Details On The Job Market In NYC

The job market in New York City is competitive for companies searching for workers. For job seekers, prospects are at an all-time high. But these aren’t the only relevant details about the job market in the city. Here we’ll take a look at some of the statistics and narrower details on jobs in New York City.

The unemployment rate in New York City was 3.9 percent in December 2019, down .1 percent from the previous year. But just over half of working-age residents are currently employed, meaning businesses have excellent odds of attracting local talent.
Ten industries are “significant” in NYC and are responsible for employing more than half of workers in the city. And with anticipatory growth shooting off the charts in eight of them through 2026, these niches are lucrative. Those top industries include:

Construction
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities
Information
Financial Activities
Professional and Business Services
Educational Services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Leisure and Hospitality

High demand for STEM workers makes these careers particularly attractive. For employers, attracting skilled STEM employees in research, engineering, design, and healthcare may take considerable recruitment effort.
New York City is home to a long list of large corporations. Among the most lucrative—with over $43 billion in revenue per year are:

J.P. Morgan Chase
Verizon Communications
Citigroup
MetLife
Pfizer
Goldman Sachs Group
Morgan Stanley
American International Group (AIG)
New York Life Insurance
American Express

Among the list of biggest corporations in NYC are also some of the largest employers. J.P. Morgan Chase employs around 249,000 workers, while Citigroup has 219,000. ABM Industries, Pfizer, Carl Icahn, Philip Morris International, and Omnicom Group are also leaders in employment.
Company culture counts for New York City workers, according to Glassdoor reviews. The best places to work in NYC, according to employee feedback on workplace culture and other elements of employment, include:

Bain & Company
VIPKid
Google
LinkedIn
Boston Consulting Group
Trader Joe’s
Power Home Remodeling
Microsoft
Facebook
Salesforce
Adobe

New York City currently has a population of nearly 8.5 million. In less than ten years, the city added over 200,000 residents. Growth projections estimate the population will reach nine million by 2040. For companies, this growth makes for an especially attractive place for new and fledgling businesses.
A 2017 survey found that New Yorkers based around NYC have the fourth-longest commute of any city in the United States. Their commutes average almost 58 minutes, just behind Washington, DC, San Francisco, and Chicago. Traffic creates congestion, and the population isn’t exactly helping matters. It’s a delicate balancing act for workers and employers alike, but companies centered in the heart of NYC have a clear advantage over far-flung corporations.

Staffing Agencies In New York City

Temp agencies in NYC must follow specific guidelines to remain in business. The Department of Labor requires that an employment agency obtain an Employment Agency License and provide verifiable work experience.

As of February 2020, New York State had 103 registered employment agencies. But with so many choices, selecting a staffing agency can become a headache. Fortunately, we have guidelines that can help you decide.

How To Choose A Staffing Agency In NYC

The best staffing agencies in NYC are willing to spend time getting to know business owners and their needs. Because choosing a temp agency is a significant decision for your company, there are a few vital points you should consider while shopping for recruitment and staffing help.

Industry and niche range: Not every temp agency can place workers in any industry. After all, the skills and screening required for part-time retail staff are vastly different than those for a full-time orthopedic surgeon. Ensuring that the agency can handle your staffing needs across every aspect of the business is essential.
Credibility: As noted, New York temp agencies are required to become registered with the state. They must also display their current license on the premises. Of course, there are some exceptions to the certification law, so it’s worth investigating if an agency you favor does not have a license. You can also check for license status on the city’s website.
Services offered: Recruiting and placement services are highlights with most staffing companies. But what if a problem arises with a new hire after the fact? Ask about the policies the agency has on placement, such as a refund if a candidate doesn’t work out. To protect your investment—and your company—you need to know these details beforehand.
Reputation: Clearly, you want to select an agency with a stellar reputation. Online reviews are only part of the picture, however. Speaking with employees and employers who use the agency is ideal. Hearing from happy (or unhappy) clients can provide the insight you need to make an informed decision.
Experience: Employment agencies that apply for licensure from the state of New York only need two years of “verifiable work experience” in a licensed employment agency. While it might not be necessary to choose an agency that dates back to 1980, you should know a bit about the background of the company and its track record.

How Are NYC Employment Agencies Paid?

Fee schedules vary based on the staffing agency and its services. The industry or niche can also impact the price companies will pay for staffing help. Most agencies charge fees for recruitment and screening services.

Some employment agencies charge retainer or contingency fees that amount to a percentage of the employee’s salary. Other companies bill for contract fees or flat fees. For industries that require short-term or seasonal help, billing may slide along a set fee scale.

Either way, staffing agencies can prove well worth the investment. Additional post-hiring support is often available, should you have an issue with a candidate. Successful placement is the name of the game—and many agencies have guarantees on their pre-screened candidates.

At the same time, consider the amount of time and money you would spend on in-house recruitment. Whether you delegate the duties to another worker or set aside the time to do it yourself, sourcing talent can be complicated and time-consuming.

Allowing professionals to handle it for you ensures that your candidates are qualified, pre-screened, and reliable. Hiring a temp agency also lets you reap the benefits of a human resources department, even if you’re a small company with few employees.

Final Thoughts

Running a business in New York City presents many challenges. The city is growing, evolving, and is always competitive in every aspect. Among the seasoned companies and industry newcomers are plenty of opportunities for job seekers—and plenty of competition for employers.

Employment agencies are an excellent way to tap into the NYC job market and source the best hires for any open role within your organization. With this staffing guide specific to NYC, you can make the most informed decision on selecting an agency to partner with.

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