professional education

Fast-Growing Franchise System Achieves First $1-Billion Quarter and Breaks Top 25 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2022 Franchise 500.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today that 2021 was the most successful year in the company’s 39-year history. Express achieved its first-ever $1-billion quarter in Q3 while also awarding a total of 66 franchise development agreements, including 41 resales, and selling out the Florida market. Additionally, the brand awarded 23 new offices in new and existing markets, including Detroit, Michigan; Rockford, Illinois; White Plains, New York; and Toronto, Ontario.

Express’ significant franchise growth in 2021 was driven by the brand’s longstanding reputation as a leading staffing provider, putting more than nine million people to work worldwide since its inception in 1983. Coupled with strong unit-level economics, unparalleled franchisee support, and an unprecedented demand for staffing experts amid the ongoing global labor shortage, Express welcomed 34 new franchisees to its system in 2021.

“2021 was a banner year for Express’ franchise development and the success we’ve achieved over the last 12 months has positioned us for exponential growth in 2022. We’re leveraging this momentum as we move into the new year, zeroing in on key markets throughout our international footprint where our professional workforce solutions are needed most,” said Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising. “As our client companies and businesses across the world continue to navigate labor challenges presented by the pandemic, we are more grateful than ever for our network of dedicated franchisees who continue to serve as vital resources in their respective communities, and we remain committed to helping good people and good jobs find each other.”

This year, Express has aggressive expansion plans for the U.S., targeting growth in markets such as San Francisco; Queens, New York; Long Island; Boston; Houston; Providence, Rhode Island; and College Park, Maryland, among others. Express will also continue to focus on franchise opportunities in Australia and New Zealand following its acquisition of Frontline Recruitment Group in February 2020. The company awarded its first Australian office in Canberra in May 2021 and its first office in New Zealand in July 2021, and is targeting Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch for future development.

“Express has been a respected leader of providing workforce solutions in the U.S. for nearly four decades, so I was energized to take my 20+ years of staffing experience and become the brand’s first franchisee in Australia,” said Sylvia Elix, owner and operator of the Express Employment Professionals office in Canberra, Australia. “Since joining Express, I’ve had the opportunity to experience the brand’s excellence firsthand and be a part of a supportive community that is committed to helping me succeed. I’m looking forward to growing my business and spreading awareness of Express as the leader in staffing throughout Canberra and beyond.”

Throughout the year, Express continued to be recognized as a leading global staffing provider and standout franchise concept. Most recently, the brand ranked #25 on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2022 Franchise 500 ranking, jumping 31 spots from last year’s list, and remains the staffing category leader for the 11^th consecutive year. Additionally, Staffing Industry Analysts, the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions, named Express the fourth-largest staffing firm in the U.S. because of the company’s record 2021 sales. Express was also awarded a Franchise Innovation Award by Franchise Update Media in the Most Innovative Employee Hiring category for its drive-thru job fairs, which at the onset of the pandemic provided immeasurable value to communities by assisting job-seekers and businesses with finding and filling open positions, and was a supporting factor in the company placing 526,000 employees at client companies in 2020.

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities, and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 850+ franchise locations worldwide. Express franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $5.4* million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano at vinny.provenzano@expresspros.com or www.expressfranchising.com.

*For territories open more than 60 months, average sales in 2020 were $5,417,303.86 according to Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Global Staffing Leader Seeks Experienced Franchisees Amid Unprecedented Industry Demand.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today that it is accelerating franchise development across Australia and New Zealand. As part of its ongoing international expansion, the company is seeking qualified prospects to open new offices in markets such as Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland and Christchurch who are eager to join a distinguished brand in a rapidly growing industry. Express, which currently has more than 850 locations throughout the U.S., Canada, and South Africa, entered the Oceania region last year with the acquisition of Frontline Recruitment Group, a recruiting and staffing company with 31 locations in Australia and three in New Zealand.

Express’ aggressive growth plans for Australia and New Zealand are driven by an unprecedented demand for staffing experts amid the continued global labor shortage, coupled with the brand’s ongoing success. By specializing in providing a full range of employment solutions for every industry — from skilled trades to light industrial, office services, professional and more — Express helps place the right people in the right jobs and has put nine million people to work worldwide since 1983.

“Our expansion into Australia and New Zealand in February 2020 marked a significant milestone for our company, extending our global footprint into a new region with tremendous opportunity. While we never could have predicted the pandemic that would soon follow, Express employed over 526,000 people last year, showcasing the crucial benefit we offer our client companies and the resilience of our concept,” said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. “With the persistent labor shortage and the immense untapped potential our brand has throughout the region, there has never been a better time to join the Express family.”

Express Employment Professionals has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, fueled by its longstanding success and reputation as the leading global staffing franchise. The brand ended 2020 with 61 total franchise agreements signed and systemwide annual sales topping out $3.23 billion. In 2021, the company has awarded 55 offices year-to-date to open in the U.S., Canada and Canberra, Australia.

“Over the course of the nearly four decades Express has been in business, we have developed a robust franchisee support program that helps set our owners up for long-term success. Between back office support, payroll funding and site selection assistance, to new owner sales coaching programs and marketing support, we are with our franchisees every step of the way and continue to provide ongoing education, resources and network support far beyond the opening of their office,” said Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising. “With unlimited potential for success, it’s an exciting time to be a part of our early growth in Australia and New Zealand.”

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 850+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 11 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $5.4* million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano at vinnyprovenzano@expresspros.com or www.expressfranchising.com.

*For territories open more than 60 months, average sales in 2020 were $5,417,303.86 according to Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Leading Global Staffing Franchise Concept Signed 27 Franchise Agreements, Including the Completion of 22 Resales in First Two Quarters.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today it has experienced notable success in the first half of 2021, signing a total of 27 franchise agreements, an 8% increase year-over-year, which included completing 22 resales. As a result of these franchise agreements, Express will enter six new markets in the coming months, including Rockford, Illinois; Woodbury, New Jersey; Scarborough, Ontario; Detroit, Michigan; Niagara Falls, Ontario; and Canberra, Australia.

The Canberra location marks Express’ first official franchise agreement following the brand’s acquisition of Frontline Recruitment Group, a recruiting and staffing company in Australia and New Zealand, in early 2020. The franchisees, Sylvi and Gary Elix, converted their existing Frontline business to an Express and plan to open a second location in the capital.

Express’ continued relevance in the current economic environment and its success has fueled a surge in franchise development this year, positioning the brand for strong growth in key target markets throughout the remainder of 2021 and beyond. In the first half of this year, Express hosted six virtual discovery days with more than 30 prospective franchise candidates interested in entrepreneurial opportunities.

“Our services have proved to be extremely valuable as the world begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic that caused many to actively search for new careers. We are fortunate to have such a strong network of franchisees whose passion fuels them to prioritize helping local businesses and members of their respective communities,” said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. “There are many markets across the country in need of a professional staffing agency, and it is our mission to find the best entrepreneurs to bring our proven business model to where it is needed most. We’ve experienced incredible momentum this year and are only expecting that strong growth to accelerate.”

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 830+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 11 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $5.4 million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at vinny.provenzano@expresspros.com or visit www.expressfranchising.com.

Leading Global Staffing Franchise Recognized for Helping More Than 5,000 Job Seekers during COVID-19 Pandemic through Its Drive-Thru Job Fairs.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today its first place accolade in Franchise Update‘s third annual Franchise Innovation Awards for the Most Innovative Employee Hiring in honor of its drive-thru job fairs. The events, which Express launched at the onset of the pandemic, placed more than 5,000 unemployed workers into new careers.

“Today we are reminded of our system’s incredible ability to adapt during a time when the global workforce was hit hardest,” said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. “In spite of the difficulties in the job market, our network of franchisees and their teams pushed through, allowing innovation to shine, all while helping businesses and community members create relationships to further career development. Today, we look forward to continuing this success and developing meaningful initiatives all while helping the market recover from a strenuous year.”

While unemployment rates rose in all 50 states, and the nationwide average peaked at an unprecedented 14.8% in April 2020, Express’ drive-thru job fairs provided job seekers with the opportunity to drop off their resume, apply for open positions, and learn more about employment opportunities, all in a mobile setting that allowed for social distancing. A majority of fairs took place in high-visibility locations such as parking lots or business complexes. For each fair, Express staff created two traffic lanes where they captured job seekers’ information and collect their resumes and, after analyzing the information submitted, employers instructed the job seekers to complete an application either online or in-person at a later date.

The 2021 Franchise Innovation Awards had more than 100 entrants competing in four categories: Marketing & Branding, Products & Services, Operations, and Human Resources. A jury of seven judges evaluated each nominee’s innovation, objectives, and results to identify and recognize the franchisors creating and implementing the most original and successful innovative strategies and tactics to build their brand.

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 830+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 11 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $5.4 million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal of putting a million people to work annually is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at vinny.provenzano@expresspros.com or visit www.expressfranchising.com.

New Corporate Program Equips Candidates With Foundational Skills Necessary for Successful Business Ownership.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing franchise, announced today the launch of its new Emerging Entrepreneur Program, a professional development curriculum designed to provide candidates with the tools, expertise and strategies needed to be an effective leader while working as a salaried employee through Express’ international headquarters in Oklahoma City. Those accepted into the program will learn how to use their skills in on-the-job scenarios, follow a proven path to future business ownership, gain insights from successful business leaders and more.

Over the course of 18 months, Emerging Entrepreneurs will work in various roles of an Express office as they prepare themselves to become a business leader or future business owner. The training program includes a hybrid of virtual and in-person learning through the Express network, offering candidates an immersive experience that helps them grow the skills needed to run a rewarding business. With one-on-one mentorship and invaluable insights from Express’ headquarters team and franchise owners, Emerging Entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to take their skills and future to the next level.

“At Express Employment Professionals, making an impact on the lives of job seekers, clients and the communities we serve is at the heart of what we do. When good leaders model positive leadership behaviors, it empowers others to take personal ownership of their own development, which is why this area has always been so important to us,” said Jason Patrick, Director of the Emerging Entrepreneur Program and Owner of Express Employment Professionals’ Nashville office. “We’re so excited to offer our new Emerging Entrepreneur Program to growth-minded, business-focused individuals who are ready to unleash their transferable skills and entrepreneurial potential within our proven franchise system while making a difference in the lives of others.”

As a company that has put more than 9 million people to work worldwide, Express is passionate about helping people elevate their careers and lives through professional development. The brand continually invests in developing exceptional talent through unparalleled mentorship opportunities, as well as programs like Emerging Entrepreneur and its existing “Bridge to Ownership” (BTO) program, which guides Express employees and staffing industry professionals to becoming franchise owners. In fact, since 2019, 15 individuals have transitioned into business ownership through the BTO program and are now among Express’ most successful franchisees.

“Starting out as an Express employee myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the value of the company’s many professional development opportunities. As I advanced throughout my career, I always aspired to own and operate a business of my own and Express’ BTO program allowed me to seamlessly bring the idea to fruition,” said Mark Leupold, owner of the Express Employment Professionals in Appleton, Wisconsin. “Express was by my side every step of the way and I know that the launch of the Emerging Entrepreneurs Program will allow aspiring business leaders the opportunity to gain tremendous knowledge as they determine their individual career paths.”

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs more than 500,000 people across 830+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 10 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per mature territory of more than $5 million in the U.S.

Aspiring Emerging Entrepreneurs can learn more about Express’ new program and apply for candidacy by visiting www.expressfranchising.com/emerge. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at vinny.provenzano@expresspros.com or visit www.expressfranchising.com.

Leading Staffing Provider Franchise Signs 61 Agreements to Expand Footprint Across North America and South Africa.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today that it experienced significant growth in 2020, signing a total of 61 franchise agreements to bring 27 new offices to key target markets, while continuing operations at 34 existing locations and welcoming 50 new franchise operators, systemwide.

In February 2020, Express also acquired direct hire staffing firm, Frontline Recruitment Group, further expanding its global footprint into Australia and New Zealand for the first time.

“The global workforce was hit hard in 2020 by COVID-19 and each industry sector had different needs at different times. Despite the challenges and complexities that the pandemic presented, our franchisees rose to the occasion and helped fill thousands of jobs last year,” said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. “We feel humbly grateful to be able to make an impact on people’s lives in the way we do, and we’re excited to grow this impact in the years to come.”

Since its inception 38 years ago, Express has become the dominant brand in the staffing franchise sector, growing to more than 830 locations across three countries. Express’s longstanding reputation as a staffing industry leader, top-tier unit-level economics and proven track record of success have been driving forces behind its accelerated franchise development, and the brand is positioned for continued growth in 2021. This year, the company plans to open new offices in key areas across the globe; throughout the U.S. in California, New York and Ohio; in Ontario, Canada; as well as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Throughout 2020, Express was also recognized among the franchise and staffing industries’ most prestigious accolades, including Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, Franchise Direct‘s Top 100 Global Franchises, the Canadian Franchise Association’s Recognition Awards, and ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Awards.

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 830+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 10 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $6 million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its brand footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at vinny.provenzano@expresspros.com or visit www.expressfranchising.com.

Company Recognized in Top 100 Franchise Brands Overall.

OKLAHOMA CITY — For the tenth consecutive year, Express Employment Professionals has received the distinction of the No. 1 Staffing Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Franchise 500® list released Tuesday. The company also landed in the top 100 franchise brands for the magazine’s 42^nd annual ranking.

“To reach a decade as the top staffing franchise on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list is entirely due to our hardworking franchise owners and the obstacles they overcame in 2020,” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “These franchisees strengthened our brand so much that we were able to expand franchising internationally to Australia and New Zealand, as well as exceed our franchise sales goals for the year in the midst of a global pandemic. When faced with hardship, I’m proud to say Express passed the test and is built to last for years to come.”

Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief, also acknowledged the challenges of last year but highlighted the unique opportunities it presented.

“Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come,” he said. “We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we’ll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future.”

Key factors that go into the evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.

With more than 830 franchises internationally, in 2020, Entrepreneur further recognized Express as a Top Global Franchise, a Top 100 Franchise to buy for less than $150,000 and one of the best franchise brands of the year. Staffing Industry Analysts added to the accolades by naming Express the tenth largest global staffing firm, the sixth-largest U.S. staffing firm, the sixth-largest U.S. office/clerical staffing firm and the second-largest U.S. industrial staffing firm.

“The Express family is growing and there’s even more opportunity for entrepreneurs to realize their business ownership dreams with us in 2021 on our way to put a million people to work annually,” Stoller said.

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami-Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

About Bill Stoller
William H. “Bill” Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing company has more than 830 franchises in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Since inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

Franchise Ownership Opportunities Now Available.

OKLAHOMA CITY — After acquiring direct hire staffing firm Frontline Recruitment Group earlier this year, Express Employment Professionals is expanding globally once again to offer franchise ownership opportunities in Australia and New Zealand.

The nearly 40-year old staffing company currently has more than 830 franchise locations across the United States, Canada and South Africa and was recently named one of the Top 10 Largest Global Staffing Firms by Staffing Industry Analysts. In 2020, Express was also designated as the Top Global Franchised Staffing Company by Entrepreneur and Franchise Direct.

Express specializes in providing a full range of employment solutions for every industry, including skilled trades, light industrial, office services and professional.

“In a season when many businesses have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Express is proud to mark another exciting milestone in our history, which allows those with dreams of business ownership to take the next step on their journey,” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “We are excited to hit the ground running to connect qualified job seekers with reputable companies in this new venture in Australia and New Zealand.”

The staffing industry generated $498 billion of revenue in 2019 and Express has seen a quick rebound in labor demand since businesses were allowed to resume operations after initial COVID-19 shutdowns in early 2020. Notably, open job orders across the company currently exceed that of pre-pandemic levels.

“Franchise ownership in our industry has generated a lot of buzz this year because of the recession-resilient nature of the business model,” said Vinny Provenzano, Express vice president of franchising. “We are honored to bring the lessons of the past nearly 40 years to this new region and ultimately, hope through employment.”

Express Employment Professionals is the No. 1 flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across more than 830 franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for nine consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $6 million in the U.S.

Express’s long-term goal is at the heart of its company’s vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its brand footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at Vinny.Provenzano@ExpressPros.com or visit www.ExpressFranchising.com.

About Bill Stoller
William H. “Bill” Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 830 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and beginning in 2020 will expand to Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The majority of unemployed Americans say the COVID-19 pandemic is most responsible for their job loss and continued unemployment, which is becoming more daunting as time passes.

This is according to a newly released survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. An expanded analysis of the full results, including survey methodology, can be found here.

More than 2 in 5 unemployed adults (41%) have been out of work for six months or less, becoming unemployed during the pandemic. The most common reason they are unemployed is their job or position was eliminated due to COVID-19 (33%), followed by they quit (12%) or were laid off (11%).

The national survey of 1,504 U.S. unemployed adults ages 18 and older was conducted online by The Harris Poll between Oct. 15 and Oct. 28, 2020. It offers a detailed, in-depth look at who is unemployed and why.

Efforts Deteriorating in Job Search

Finding a job is the top priority for the majority of unemployed adults (70%). On average, they spend 12 hours a week looking for work. Unemployed adults applied to 11 jobs in the previous month but only had one interview, on average.

Grim Financial Outlook

More than 2 in 3 unemployed adults (69%) do not feel financially secure right now, and 70% believe they do not have enough savings to survive unemployment much longer. The most common sources of income during this time are savings (40%) or financial support from friends and family members (29%).

Relying on Unemployment Benefits

Looking at national and state unemployment benefits, 3 in 4 (75%) agree there is not enough financial support provided to those individuals who are unemployed, especially given that more than half (56%) used to be the breadwinner for their household.

Twenty-seven percent of unemployed adults report they currently rely on unemployment compensation benefits. The average income from unemployment benefits among those receiving them is $828 a month.

Accepting Less than Ideal Job Offers

Because of difficulties in the current job process and increased competition from other job seekers, 85% would be willing to accept some aspects of a job that may be less than ideal if they were offered a job right now. If offered a job right now, they would most commonly be willing to accept a job not in their desired field (47%), that requires long hours (35%) and a more junior position/title (29%).

About the Survey

• Memo from The Harris Poll
• Study by The Harris Poll
• Infographic

A Call for an Education Revolution Aligning Classrooms and Careers. 

OKLAHOMA CITY — 2020 has been anything but normal for students and teachers with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As many schools across the nation prepare to resume classes virtually, a new white paper from Express Employment Professionals explores why now is the perfect time to revolutionize the education system.

The new white paper dives deeper into a survey commissioned by Express in conjunction with The Harris Poll that revealed nearly 9 in 10 employees (87%) agree a whole new approach to education, skills training and learning—an “education revolution”—is needed to prepare people for the workforce. And of those employees, 40% “strongly agree” with that sentiment.

The key challenges survey respondents identified include:

1. The gap between skills needed and skills taught
2. The lack of work study or earn-and-learn opportunities
3. The cost and utility of college and higher education

The rapid changes of this year only further revealed what was ultimately not working with the education system before the pandemic—when too many students entered the workforce unprepared for the jobs available to them. This unwanted disruption is a challenge but also an opportunity to refocus curriculum on what Americans say matters for their careers.

Regardless of whether government policy changes are made to address these concerns, it is critical for everyone—employers, educators, policymakers, students and more—to have a clearer understanding of employees’ relationship with and perspectives on the education system, as well as what each can do in response.

Other notable topics in the white paper include:

• Confidence in preparation to handle aspects of work
• Combining education and experience
• Accessibility and affordability of college
• Lifelong learning
• Upskilling

“Historically, during difficult times is often when a society sees the most innovation. This pandemic has exposed which jobs are absolutely essential to the economy, and we need to make sure we are preparing students adequately for the workforce of today and tomorrow,” Express CEO Bill Stoller said. “Now is the time for an education revolution.”