National Workforce Development Month: 5 Ways Staffing Agencies Can Strengthen the Workforce and Grow their Business

Why Workforce Development for Staffing Agencies Matters

Every September, organizations across the country recognize National Workforce Development Month, a time dedicated to highlighting the programs, partnerships, and professionals who help build a stronger workforce. The observance was created to raise awareness of the critical role workforce development plays in connecting people to careers while helping employers find and develop talent.

Workforce development for staffing agencies is more than an industry initiative. It is a core part of helping job seekers find meaningful employment while supporting employers with the skilled talent they need. By investing in workforce development, staffing firms can strengthen their communities, improve candidate outcomes, and create new opportunities for business growth.

• Enter the workforce

• Re-enter the workforce

• Transition careers

• Gain exposure to a new industry

• Develop skills that increase long-term earning potential

5 Ways Staffing Agencies Can Strengthen the Workforce and Grow their Business

1. Help candidates build careers, not just find assignments.

Think about how assignments can provide transferable skills, experience, and steppingstones to better opportunities. Offer candidate coaching and skills assessments. Work with client companies who offer employer-sponsored training. Staffing agencies who consistently invest in helping workers become more valuable in the marketplace will inevitably gain more referrals and grow their business.

2. Build relationships with local workforce development organizations.

Many agencies aren’t taking full advantage of workforce boards, American Job Centers, community colleges, and other workforce organizations that can provide access to candidates and training programs.

3. Look beyond the traditional candidate pool.

Help clients rethink unnecessarily restrictive job requirements and consider overlooked talent pools. Minnesota’s CareerForce specifically highlights helping employers reach often over-looked talent as part of its employer services.

4. Become the source of labor-market intelligence for your clients.

Don’t just take job orders. Bring clients information about wages, candidate availability, skill shortages and changing worker expectations. American Staffing Association, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Lightcast are great sources of information.

5. Tell your workforce-development story.

Staffing firms have great stories that often go untold: a first job, someone returning to work, a career change, a temp to hire success, or a client finally filling a challenging role. Workforce Development Month is an excellent time to share those success stories.

Workforce Development benefits everyone:

• Workers gain valuable skills and opportunities for career advancement.
• Employers gain access to a larger, better-prepared talent pool
• Communities benefit from stronger employment outcomes and economic growth.

Staffing agencies that embrace their role in workforce development can strengthen their communities while building deeper relationships and creating new opportunities for growth.