Finding skilled workers is the biggest headache for companies right now.

The numbers don't lie: 78% of construction companies can't find enough hourly craft workers. Another 83% struggle to hire superintendents. And the industry needs to hire around 439,000 additional workers this year just to keep up with demand.

If you're running company, you don't have time to post job ads and hope for the best. You need workers yesterday.

That's where construction staffing agencies come in. They've already done the recruiting, screening, and vetting. You tell them what you need and when you need it they deliver qualified workers to your jobsite.

We researched the top staffing partners for construction companies and ranked them based on specialization, geographic reach, worker quality, and the types of roles they fill best.

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1. Tradesmen International

Best for: Skilled trades at all experience levels

Tradesmen International earned the title of Construction and Skilled Labor Staffing Agency of the Year 2025. They've built a talent pool of over 1 million craftworkers since launching in 1992.

Their CORE + Flex workforce strategy lets construction companies maintain a lean permanent crew while scaling up for project demands. Every worker they send is a permanent W-2 employee of Tradesmen not a random temp. That means better accountability, consistent quality, and workers who actually care about doing good work.

They place carpenters, electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, plumbers, and heavy industrial craftworkers. With nearly 150 local market teams across North America, they can staff projects almost anywhere.

Best for construction companies that: Need reliable skilled trades talent with verified credentials and serious safety training

2. FlexCrew USA

Best for: AI-powered matching and fast placements

FlexCrew USA takes a modern approach to construction staffing. They combine traditional recruiting expertise with AI-powered tools that match workers to jobs faster and more accurately than old-school methods.

Their AI resume builder helps candidates present their skills and certifications clearly which means construction companies receive better-quality applications from day one. Instead of sorting through dozens of poorly formatted resumes, hiring managers get clean profiles that highlight exactly what matters: certifications, experience, and relevant skills.

FlexCrew's technology screens for the specific qualifications you need, cutting through the noise of unqualified applicants. They maintain networks of vetted workers ready to deploy across residential, commercial, and industrial projects nationwide.

They fill general laborers, skilled tradespeople, equipment operators, supervisory and foreman roles, and project support staff. Their geographic coverage spans the entire country with particularly strong presence in Texas, Florida, California, and other high-growth construction markets.

Best for construction companies that: Want technology-forward hiring solutions and faster time-to-fill for critical roles

Pro tip: If you're a construction worker looking to get noticed by top companies, FlexCrew's AI resume builder can help you create a professional resume that highlights your certifications and experience.

3. Aerotek

Best for: Large-scale staffing with dedicated support

Aerotek has been in the staffing game for 40 years. They serve over 14,000 clients and place 150,000 contractors annually across multiple industries including construction.

Their size means serious resources. Aerotek can handle massive staffing needs and provides onsite leadership for complex projects. Their Construction Support Services program has helped construction companies save hundreds of thousands in labor costs while keeping projects on schedule.

They place general laborers, heavy equipment operators, electricians, maintenance mechanics, welders, and supervisory roles. Their nationwide coverage includes strong presence in every major metro market.

Best for construction companies that: Need high-volume staffing with dedicated account management and onsite support for large projects

4. PeopleReady

Best for: On-demand temporary labor

PeopleReady is the largest light-industrial staffing provider in the country. They serve 650+ markets across the U.S. and have over 30 years of experience solving staffing problems for construction companies.

Their JobStack app lets construction companies request workers anytime, from any device. Need five laborers tomorrow morning? You can make that request at 10 PM tonight and have workers on your jobsite by 7 AM. For higher-level placements, their specialized division PeopleReady Skilled Trades—handles carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other credentialed tradespeople.

Their screening process includes safety training verification and skills assessments. With geographically dispersed service centers, they can serve construction companies in markets where other agencies don't operate.

Best for construction companies that: Need flexible, on-demand labor with quick turnaround times and mobile-first ordering

5. KODIAK Construction Talent Solutions

Best for: Leadership and management placements

KODIAK has over 35 years of experience connecting construction talent with leading companies. While many agencies focus on craft workers, KODIAK excels at finding the people who run projects and companies.

They specialize in placements from field management all the way up to C-suite executives. If you need a superintendent, project manager, estimator, or operations director, KODIAK should be on your shortlist. They emphasize diversity, safety, and integrity in every placement factors that matter when you're hiring someone to lead teams and manage millions in project budgets.

Best for construction companies that: Need experienced leadership, management talent, and executive-level placements

6. Labor Finders

Best for: Local market expertise and temp-to-hire arrangements

Labor Finders operates almost 200 offices nationwide, giving them deep roots in local construction markets. They've won Clearly Rated's Best of Staffing award multiple years running.

Their branch managers know their local markets inside and out. They understand which workers are reliable, which contractors treat people well, and how to match the right person to the right job. That local knowledge makes a real difference in placement quality.

Their temp-to-hire program is particularly valuable for construction companies that want to test workers before making permanent offers. You bring someone in for a trial period, evaluate their actual performance on your jobsite, and then decide whether to convert them to permanent status.

Best for construction companies that: Value local expertise and want to evaluate workers before committing to permanent hires

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7. Trillium Construction Services

Best for: Safety-focused skilled trades with travel capability

Trillium is recognized as a national leader among construction staffing agencies. They employ a full-time Safety Management team that provides onsite training and certifications—a level of commitment most agencies don't match.

Safety isn't just a checkbox for Trillium. They screen for NCCER certification, TWIC cards, aerial lift cards, and OSHA training before placing any worker. Their mobilized workforce can travel nationwide for project needs, which is huge for construction companies managing jobs across multiple states.

They place apprentice through journeyman-level trades including pipefitters, electricians, welders, ironworkers, and heavy equipment operators.

Best for construction companies that: Prioritize safety above all else and need workers who can travel to remote or multi-state projects

8. Hays Construction

Best for: Mid-sized contractors seeking diverse talent

Hays specializes in placing skilled construction professionals across superintendents, project managers, estimators, and field leadership roles. They typically present qualified candidates within 5-10 business days faster than most competitors for management-level positions.

What sets Hays apart is their commitment to diversity. They offer DE&I advisory services and actively source diverse candidates, including veterans and women in construction. For mid-sized construction companies (50-200 employees) without internal recruiting teams, Hays can function as an outsourced HR partner handling everything from sourcing to onboarding.

Best for construction companies that: Want diverse candidate pools and need support filling supervisory and management roles without maintaining large HR teams

9. Wide Effect

Best for: Deep industry expertise and long-term relationships

Wide Effect has over 60 years of experience as construction industry headhunters. That's not a typo six decades in the business means they've seen every market cycle, every technology shift, and every hiring challenge the industry has faced.

They maintain one of the country's most extensive databases of construction professionals, from apprentice-level workers to senior executives. That institutional knowledge translates to better matches and fewer bad hires.

Best for construction companies that: Value experience and want a staffing partner with deep industry roots and proven track record

10. Building Team Solutions

Best for: Texas and Southwest regional expertise

Building Team Solutions is a national placement and recruitment firm based in Austin, TX. Founded in 2011, they specialize in staffing tradesmen across the construction and industrial sectors.

They're affiliated with the Texas Association of Staffing and maintain multiple industry certifications. For construction companies with projects in Texas, Arizona, or the broader Southwest, Building Team Solutions brings strong regional relationships that larger national firms often lack.

Best for construction companies that: Operate primarily in Texas or the Southwest and want a regionally connected partner with national reach

How to Choose the Right Staffing Partner for Your Construction Company

Not every agency fits every situation. Here's a quick breakdown to help you match your needs to the right partner:

Your Situation
Best Fit
Need skilled trades fast
Tradesmen International, FlexCrew USA
Want AI-powered matching technology
FlexCrew USA
High-volume temporary labor
PeopleReady, Aerotek
Hiring superintendents or project managers
KODIAK, Hays
Safety is your top priority
Trillium
Projects across multiple states
Trillium, Tradesmen International
Mid-sized company without HR team
Hays, FlexCrew USA
Want to test before permanent hire
Labor Finders
Texas or Southwest focus
Building Team Solutions, FlexCrew USA

Questions to Ask Before Signing with Any Staffing Agency

Before committing to a staffing partner, get clear answers on these points:

Screening process. How do they verify certifications, check references, and confirm OSHA training? The best agencies won't send anyone to your jobsite without thorough vetting.

Speed to fill. Top agencies should place temporary workers within 1-3 days. Skilled trades take 3-7 days. Management roles require 2-4 weeks. If their timelines are much longer, look elsewhere.

Replacement guarantees. What happens if a worker doesn't work out? Good agencies offer quick replacements at no additional charge.

Compliance coverage. Workers' comp, I-9 verification, drug testing, and payroll should all be handled by the agency. This protects your construction company from liability.

Fee structure. Temporary staffing typically runs 40-65% markup on wages. Direct hire placements cost 15-35% of annual salary. Get these numbers in writing before you start.

The Bottom Line for Construction Companies

The labor shortage isn't going away anytime soon. Construction companies that build relationships with quality staffing agencies now will have a serious advantage over competitors still scrambling to find workers.

Start with one or two agencies that fit your primary needs. Test them on smaller projects. Once you find partners that consistently deliver quality workers on time, those relationships become a long-term competitive edge that's hard to replicate.

Whether you need a dozen laborers tomorrow or a new superintendent next quarter, the right staffing partner makes all the difference between projects that run smooth and projects that blow past deadlines.



FAQs

How quickly can staffing agencies fill construction positions?

Temporary labor positions typically fill within 1-3 days. Skilled trades may take 3-7 days. Management and supervisory roles usually require 2-4 weeks to source and vet qualified candidates.

What do construction staffing agencies charge?

Most agencies charge a 40-65% markup on hourly wages for temporary workers. For direct hire placements, expect to pay 15-35% of the worker's first-year salary as a placement fee.

Which staffing agencies work best for small construction companies?

FlexCrew USA and Labor Finders both serve small and mid-sized contractors who don't have internal recruiting teams. Their flexible arrangements and local expertise make them accessible for companies of any size.

Can construction companies convert temp workers to permanent employees?

Yes. Most agencies offer temp-to-hire arrangements where you can convert workers to permanent status after a trial period (usually 60-90 days). There's typically a conversion fee involved.


Looking for skilled workers for your next construction project? FlexCrew USA connects construction companies with vetted talent nationwide. Their AI-powered tools help you find the right workers faster. Get started today.