staffing solutions

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.”

OKLAHOMA CITY — Nearly 9 in 10 employees (87%) say a whole new approach to education, skills training and learning, or an Education Revolution, is needed to better prepare people for the workforce.

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.

Regardless of generation, majorities agree that what is taught in school does not always translate to career success. More than half of U.S. employees (54%) say schools are not doing a good job of preparing the next generation of workers for what their needs are after school, and 4 in 5 (80%) say the education system has failed to evolve to the needs of the workforce.

The national survey of 1,206 U.S. employees ages 18 and older was conducted online by The Harris Poll between Dec. 5 and Dec. 30, 2019.

Work Experience Programs Lacking
Eighty-five percent of workers believe degrees should require on-the-job experience, not just coursework, yet close to half, 45%, say they did not participate in any work experience programs (e.g., internships, shadowing, apprenticeships, co-op placements) while in school.

Few Use Education Daily at Work
Sixty-seven percent of American workers say they are employed in the same field/profession in which they received their degrees or certifications, but more than 3 in 4 (77%) agree that they never learned the majority of their day-to-day job duties in school. Consequently, more than 9 in 10 (92%) agree there needs to be more of a balance in education to match actual career options.

Advanced Degrees Helpful, but Not Essential
Although the majority of U.S. workers, 83%, say their education has been useful to their career, only 18% say it has been absolutely essential. Still, 7 in 10 (70%) appear to equate a degree with success as they say getting any degree is better than no degree at all.

Who Should Pay for College?
When considering who should pay for college, there is no clear consensus.

• Government: (Gen Z, 54%; millennials, 32%; Gen X, 23%; boomers/seniors, 14%)
• The student: (Gen Z, 26%; millennials, 33%; Gen X, 43%; boomers/seniors, 52%)

Continual Learning is Essential
Nearly 4 in 5 (79%) agree anyone who doesn’t continue to upskill in their career will be left behind in the workforce, but only 33% of U.S. employees have returned to school after entering the workforce.

Seventy-three percent feel prepared for jobs of the future, but when asked about specific skills, only half or less are knowledgeable in these areas.

“The jobs of tomorrow won’t wait for workers to take their time to learn the necessary skills,” said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express. “The sooner we align what is taught in school and upskilling at companies with the demands of the workforce, the easier it will be to create large talent pools of workers necessary for a stable and successful economy.”