Industrial Staffing Frequently Asked Questions for Job Seekers

Industrial sector staffing firms provide a spectrum of services—temporary, temporary-to-hire, and direct-hire placements—to their employees and clients. Positions are available for both the skilled and unskilled trades in manufacturing, factory work, logistics and distribution, shipping and receiving, materials handling, hospitality, retail, transportation, and more. Assignments include both light labor—for instance cleaning, assembling, and maintenance—and heavy labor—like construction, moving, and storage.

If a permanent position is a current career goal, staffing employment offers a proven bridge to permanent jobs. According to ASA research, 51% of temporary and contract employees working in the industrial sector say that the reason for choosing this type of work is that “it’s a way to get a permanent job.” Staffing also offers work schedule flexibility. Flexibility is a compelling draw for industrial professionals when considering working in staffing.

Temporary or contract employees in the industrial sector earn competitive wages. To attract qualified employees, most staffing firms offer health insurance, many offer vacation and holiday pay, and some offer retirement plans. Virtually any temporary or contract employee who wants benefits can find a staffing firm that offers them.

Industrial staffing firms place a wide variety of candidates, including both the skilled and unskilled trades in manufacturing, factory work, logistics and distribution, shipping and receiving, materials handling, retail, hospitality, and more.

Safety is a top priority for staffing firms and their employees. Staffing firms work with their clients to provide appropriate safety training. Typically, staffing firms will provide general safety training, while clients will provide site-specific training.

On-the-job worker safety is critically important to ASA staffing firm members. In fact, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and ASA recently entered into an alliance to help provide association members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources to help protect the health and safety of temporary and contract workers. ASA also dedicates a whole section of its website—americanstaffing.net/safetymatters—to educate staffing firms and clients about critical worker safety considerations.

Eighty-one percent of staffing employees in the industrial sector report working on full-time assignments.

Skilled trades are particularly in demand, including CNC machinists, skilled tradesmen (plumbers, electricians, and journeymen), welders, CDL drivers, forklift operators, manufacturing engineers, and more.

ASA members pledge to adhere to a code of ethics and best practices—most of which deal with employee relations. Moreover, because ASA promotes legal, ethical, and professional practices for the staffing industry, its members are kept abreast of the latest developments in labor and employment laws and human resource best practices. One of the principal missions of the association is to encourage high standards of ethical conduct in dealings with employees, clients, and competitors.

To find a staffing firm that specializes in the industrial sector, visit the ASA member staffing firm directory on americanstaffing.net.

After applying and if your profile matches a job opening, a representative of the staffing firm may contact you via email or phone. You may be screened and interviewed by the firm.