Express Employment
Looking for work can feel slow and isolating. You send out resumes, wait for replies, and often hear nothing back. A staffing agency can speed that up by matching you with employers that need workers now. One of the largest names in that field is Express Employment Professionals, a franchise network with almost 900 offices across five countries.
This guide explains how Express Employment works, what kinds of jobs it fills, how to apply, what it offers employers, and how it compares to other staffing firms. It also covers the basics of staffing and employment agencies, so you can decide if this route fits your job search.
What Is Express Employment?
Express Employment Professionals is a staffing company based in Oklahoma City. It finds workers for businesses and finds jobs for people who need work. It is the flagship brand of its parent company, which is also based in Oklahoma City.
The company runs through a franchise model. Each office is owned and run by a local franchisee who knows the job market in that area. That setup lets each office build ties with local employers while drawing on the tools, training, and brand of the larger company.
Express ranks as the fourth-largest staffing provider in the U.S. and the third-largest U.S. industrial staffing provider, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. It operates in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
A Short History
- 1983: William “Bill” Stoller and Robert “Bob” Funk Sr. co-founded the company in Oklahoma City.
- 1990s and 2000s: The network grew across the U.S. and into Canada.
- 2010s: It expanded into South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
- 2025: Both co-founders died. Stoller died in the spring, and Funk Sr. died in July at age 85.
- May 2025: Bob Funk Jr., who joined the company at the franchise level in 1996, became CEO while staying on as president and chairman.
- 2025: The company added 54 new franchise locations, bringing its total to almost 900.
- 2026: It ranked No. 1 in the staffing category of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for the 15th year in a row and signed 29 franchise agreements by mid-year.
What Is a Staffing Agency?
A staffing agency acts as a middleman between workers and businesses. Employers tell the agency what kind of help they need. The agency finds, screens, and places workers. In many cases, the agency is the legal employer of temporary workers. It pays their wages, handles taxes, and may offer benefits.
Staffing Agency vs. Employment Agency
The two terms are often used as if they mean the same thing, but there is a small difference:
| Feature | Staffing agency | Employment agency |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Temporary and contract work | Permanent job placement |
| Who employs the worker | Often the agency | The client company |
| Who pays the agency | The employer | In most cases, the employer |
| Typical roles | Warehouse, office, light industrial | Professional and full-time roles |
Express Employment does both. It places temporary workers, temp-to-hire workers, and full-time hires.
Services for Job Seekers
Express offers several kinds of job placement:
- Temporary jobs. Short-term work that can last days, weeks, or months. These roles help businesses cover busy seasons, sick leave, or special projects.
- Temp-to-hire jobs. You start as a temporary worker. If both you and the employer are happy, the company may hire you full time.
- Direct hire. Express helps you land a permanent job with the employer from day one.
- Professional search. Recruiters help fill higher-level roles, such as managers, engineers, and finance staff.
Common Industries
Express fills roles in many fields, including:
- Light industrial and manufacturing
- Warehouse and distribution
- Office and administrative support
- Skilled trades
- Customer service
- Accounting and finance
- Engineering and IT
- Health care support
Perks for Workers
Workers placed by Express may get:
- Weekly pay in many locations.
- Benefits that can include health plans and paid time off, depending on the role and location.
- Free training through online courses on safety, software, and job skills.
- No fees. Job seekers don’t pay Express to find work. Employers pay the agency.
Benefits vary by office and job, so ask your local office for details.
How to Apply
Getting started with Express is simple:
- Find your local office. Use the office locator on the Express website, expresspros.com.
- Create an online profile. Upload your resume and list your skills, work history, and availability.
- Visit the office or do a virtual interview. A staffing consultant talks with you about your goals.
- Complete any assessments. You may take skills tests, safety training, or background checks.
- Get matched. When a job fits your skills, the office reaches out.
- Stay in touch. Let your recruiter know when you are free for new assignments.
Tips for Success
- Be clear about what you want. Tell your recruiter your pay range, schedule, and job goals.
- Show up on time. Reliable workers get offered the best assignments.
- Keep your profile updated. New skills or certificates can open more doors.
- Treat temp work like a tryout. Many temp-to-hire roles turn into full-time jobs.
Services for Employers
For businesses, Express Employment offers:
- Recruiting and screening. Express finds candidates, checks references, and runs background checks where allowed.
- Payroll and taxes. For temporary workers, Express handles wages, payroll taxes, and workers’ compensation.
- Flexible staffing. Companies can scale their workforce up or down as demand changes.
- HR support. Some offices offer help with HR tasks, such as onboarding and compliance.
- Workforce research. Express runs a regular “America Employed” survey with Harris Poll that tracks hiring trends, AI use at work, and worker sentiment.
Employers pay Express a markup on each worker’s wage for temporary staffing or a placement fee for direct hires. Rates depend on the job, the market, and the length of the assignment.
Pros and Cons
Pros for Job Seekers
- Fast access to open jobs
- No fees to apply
- A chance to try different industries
- Path to full-time work through temp-to-hire roles
- Free training and skills courses
Cons for Job Seekers
- Temporary roles may end with little notice
- Benefits can be limited for short assignments
- Pay may be lower than a direct hire in some cases
- Experience can vary from one franchise office to another
How Express Compares to Other Staffing Agencies
| Agency | Headquarters | Main focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express | Oklahoma City, OK | Light industrial, office, professional | Franchise model with almost 900 offices |
| Robert Half | Menlo Park, CA | Finance, accounting, tech, legal | Strong in professional roles |
| Randstad | Diemen, Netherlands | General staffing and HR services | One of the largest staffing firms in the world |
| Adecco | Zurich, Switzerland | General staffing, IT, engineering | Global network |
| ManpowerGroup | Milwaukee, WI | Light industrial, office, IT | Brands include Manpower and Experis |
| Kelly Services | Troy, MI | Education, science, engineering | Long history in office staffing |
Express stands out for its local franchise model. If you value a recruiter who knows your town’s employers, that can be a real plus. If you want niche tech or finance roles, firms like Robert Half may have deeper pools.
Express as a Franchise Opportunity
Express also sells franchises to people who want to own a staffing business. The company has been ranked No. 1 in the staffing category of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for 15 years. In 2025, more than 5,000 people expressed interest in becoming owners, and the company held 12 “Discovery Days” for prospective franchisees. In 2026, demand was strongest in Ontario and British Columbia in Canada and in parts of the Northeast U.S.
Franchise costs vary by territory. Anyone interested should review the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document and speak with current owners before investing.
Staffing Agencies and Tech Careers
Staffing agencies aren’t just for warehouse and office jobs. Many recruiters now fill roles in data, analytics, and IT, where demand remains high. If you are thinking about a move into tech, our guide to the top 10 big data careers covers the highest-paying roles in the field, from data scientists to data engineers, and the skills they require. A staffing agency can be a useful first step to gain experience on contract projects while you build those skills.
Is Express Employment Right for You?
Express Employment may be a good fit if you:
- Need work fast and are open to temporary roles
- Want to test a new industry before committing
- Prefer a local recruiter who knows area employers
- Are looking for a path from temp work to a full-time job
It may be less ideal if you want only remote tech roles or very specialized positions, where niche recruiters or direct applications may work better.
Final Thoughts
Express Employment is one of the largest staffing networks in North America, with almost 900 franchise offices and more than four decades of history. It helps job seekers find temporary, temp-to-hire, and full-time work at no cost, and it helps employers fill roles fast. Its local franchise model gives it deep ties to each community it serves.
After the loss of both co-founders in 2025, the company moved to new leadership under CEO Bob Funk Jr. and kept growing in 2026, adding new franchises and holding its top spot in Entrepreneur’s rankings.
Key Takeaways
- Express is a staffing company founded in 1983 in Oklahoma City.
- It operates almost 900 franchise offices in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Job seekers can find temporary, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and professional roles at no cost.
- Employers use Express for recruiting, screening, payroll, and flexible staffing.
- Co-founders Bill Stoller and Bob Funk Sr. both died in 2025, and Bob Funk Jr. became CEO.
- Express ranked No. 1 in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 staffing category for the 15th year.
- Staffing agencies can also help you get started in fields like data and tech.
