Key takeaway: The 10 best skilled trades staffing agencies for 2026 are: Tradesmen International, Aerotek, PeopleReady Skilled Trades, Madden Industrial Craftsmen, LaborMax Staffing, Labor Finders, HireQuest, RigUp (formerly Workrise), Skillit, and Trillium Construction Services. Tradesmen International, Aerotek, and PeopleReady Skilled Trades are the national leaders for journeyman-level craft workers; Madden, LaborMax, Labor Finders, HireQuest, and Trillium are strong regional and branch-based options; RigUp and Skillit are technology platforms for energy and construction trades hiring.
Skilled trades staffing agencies supply electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, millwrights, and industrial maintenance technicians to contractors, manufacturers, facilities, and energy projects on a temporary, project, or temp-to-hire basis. The agency verifies certifications and licenses, carries workers' compensation, and keeps a bench of craft workers who move between projects as demand shifts.
Every trade is short of people. Associated Builders and Contractors estimated that the construction industry needed to attract about 439,000 additional workers in 2025 to meet demand, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 80,200 openings a year for electricians, 43,300 for plumbers and pipefitters, and 42,500 for HVAC technicians through 2033, with electrician employment growing 11 percent, far faster than average. Retirements are the main driver: a large share of licensed tradespeople are over 50, and apprenticeship pipelines have not kept pace.
This list ranks agencies by craft depth and certification verification, geographic coverage, safety record, and pricing clarity. For salaried construction managers and estimators, see our construction recruiting firms list; for general production labor, see warehouse and light industrial staffing agencies.
How did we evaluate skilled trades staffing agencies?
| Criterion | Weight | What we assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Craft depth and verification | 30% | Journeyman and master-level pool, license and certification checks, and skills assessment |
| Coverage | 20% | Branch footprint and ability to deploy crews across states for projects |
| Safety | 20% | OSHA training, safety record, and workers' compensation handling |
| Service model | 15% | Temporary, project, temp-to-hire, and direct hire options plus workforce planning support |
| Pricing transparency | 15% | Clear hourly bill rates, per diem handling, and conversion fees |
The 10 agencies at a glance
| # | Firm | Headquarters | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tradesmen International | Macedonia, OH | Contractors and industrial facilities that want the largest dedicated skilled trades staffing... |
| 2 | Aerotek | Hanover, MD | Manufacturers and facilities that need maintenance technicians, welders, machinists, and... |
| 3 | PeopleReady Skilled Trades | Tacoma, WA | Contractors that want a national skilled trades bench alongside PeopleReady's general labor... |
| 4 | Madden Industrial Craftsmen | Portland, OR | Pacific Northwest contractors and manufacturers that want a long-established regional craft... |
| 5 | LaborMax Staffing | Kansas City, MO | Contractors and plants in the Midwest, South, and West that want a locally owned branch for... |
| 6 | Labor Finders | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | Contractors and industrial employers that need daily and weekly craft and construction labor... |
| 7 | HireQuest | Goose Creek, SC | Employers that want a locally owned office for trades, industrial, and construction labor with... |
| 8 | RigUp (formerly Workrise) | Austin, TX | Energy, solar, and infrastructure projects that need to source, onboard, and pay skilled... |
| 9 | Skillit | New York, NY | General contractors and subcontractors hiring permanent craft workers directly, using skills... |
| 10 | Trillium Construction Services | Lansing, MI | Commercial and industrial contractors in the Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest that want a... |
The 10 best skilled trades staffing agencies
1. Tradesmen International
Type: Skilled craft staffing for construction and industrial Headquarters: Macedonia, OH Best for: Contractors and industrial facilities that want the largest dedicated skilled trades staffing provider with a safety-first culture
Tradesmen International is the largest skilled trades staffing company in the United States, with more than 150 offices and a workforce of journeyman-level electricians, pipefitters, welders, carpenters, millwrights, and other craft workers. It is owned by Blackstone and known for its field safety program, craft verification, and consulting on workforce planning for contractors.
Strengths:
- Largest craft worker pool and national office network
- Strong safety program and craft verification
- Workforce planning consulting for contractors
Limitations:
- Premium bill rates
- Large organization; office quality varies
2. Aerotek
Type: Industrial, skilled trades, and manufacturing staffing (Allegis Group) Headquarters: Hanover, MD Best for: Manufacturers and facilities that need maintenance technicians, welders, machinists, and electricians through recruiter-led placement
Aerotek, part of Allegis Group, is one of the largest providers of skilled trades and industrial staffing in North America, placing maintenance technicians, welders, machinists, electricians, and production craft workers through recruiter-led matching and hundreds of local offices. It is especially strong in manufacturing and plant maintenance.
Strengths:
- Recruiter-led model and large office network
- Deep manufacturing and maintenance bench
- Direct hire and contract options
Limitations:
- Less construction site crew capability than Tradesmen
- Markups higher than daily labor agencies
3. PeopleReady Skilled Trades
Type: Skilled trades staffing (TrueBlue) Headquarters: Tacoma, WA Best for: Contractors that want a national skilled trades bench alongside PeopleReady's general labor and the JobStack app
PeopleReady Skilled Trades, formerly CLP Resources, is TrueBlue's skilled trades division, supplying electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, HVAC technicians, and other craft workers to commercial and industrial contractors nationwide. It combines a national branch network with the JobStack app for fast ordering and dispatch.
Strengths:
- National footprint and JobStack technology
- Craft and general labor from one vendor
- Public company compliance and safety programs
Limitations:
- Journeyman depth varies by market
- Less consultative than Tradesmen International
4. Madden Industrial Craftsmen
Type: Skilled trades and industrial staffing Headquarters: Portland, OR Best for: Pacific Northwest contractors and manufacturers that want a long-established regional craft staffing specialist
Madden Industrial Craftsmen has supplied skilled craft workers, including welders, machinists, electricians, and industrial maintenance technicians, to manufacturers and contractors in Oregon, Washington, and neighboring states since 1988. It is known for careful craft screening and long client relationships in the region.
Strengths:
- Decades of Pacific Northwest craft staffing
- Careful skills verification
- Strong manufacturing and marine client base
Limitations:
- Regional footprint
- Small scale for multi-state projects
5. LaborMax Staffing
Type: Franchised skilled trades and industrial staffing Headquarters: Kansas City, MO Best for: Contractors and plants in the Midwest, South, and West that want a locally owned branch for trades and industrial labor
LaborMax Staffing is a franchised staffing company with branches across the US that supply skilled trades, construction, industrial, and hospitality workers, with local owners who know regional contractors and craft pools. It handles screening, safety orientation, and payroll for temporary and temp-to-hire placements.
Strengths:
- Local ownership and relationships
- Broad branch footprint in secondary markets
- Trades and general labor from one branch
Limitations:
- Franchise quality varies
- Less journeyman verification rigor than Tradesmen
6. Labor Finders
Type: Franchised industrial and construction staffing Headquarters: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Best for: Contractors and industrial employers that need daily and weekly craft and construction labor from a long-established branch network
Labor Finders is one of the oldest industrial staffing franchises in the US, with roughly 200 offices supplying construction, skilled trades, manufacturing, and hospitality workers on a daily, weekly, and temp-to-hire basis. It is a dependable option for contractors that need laborers and tradespeople quickly in the Southeast and across the country.
Strengths:
- Large and long-established branch network
- Daily labor and craft workers
- Strong Southeast coverage
Limitations:
- General labor is a larger share than skilled trades
- Branch service varies
7. HireQuest
Type: Franchised staffing (HireQuest Direct, Snelling, DriverQuest, TradeCorp) Headquarters: Goose Creek, SC Best for: Employers that want a locally owned office for trades, industrial, and construction labor with same-day dispatch
HireQuest is a publicly traded, franchised staffing company whose HireQuest Direct, TradeCorp, Snelling, and DriverQuest brands supply construction, skilled trades, industrial, and driver staff through locally owned offices across the US. Its daily dispatch model makes it useful for contractors with fluctuating crew needs.
Strengths:
- Same-day dispatch model
- Trades-focused TradeCorp brand
- Nationwide franchise footprint
Limitations:
- Franchise quality varies
- Less suited to long-term journeyman placements
8. RigUp (formerly Workrise)
Type: Workforce and vendor management platform for energy and skilled trades Headquarters: Austin, TX Best for: Energy, solar, and infrastructure projects that need to source, onboard, and pay skilled trades workers at scale
RigUp, which operated as Workrise from 2021 until returning to the RigUp name, is a technology-enabled workforce and source-to-pay platform that sources, onboards, and pays skilled trades and energy workers for oil and gas, solar, wind, and infrastructure projects, and offers vendor management software for large project owners. It combines a large worker network with payroll, compliance, and reporting tools.
Strengths:
- Large energy and renewables workforce network
- Payroll, compliance, and vendor management in one platform
- Scale for large projects
Limitations:
- Energy and infrastructure concentration
- Less suited to small commercial contractors
9. Skillit
Type: Construction trades hiring platform Headquarters: New York, NY Best for: General contractors and subcontractors hiring permanent craft workers directly, using skills data instead of résumés
Skillit is a construction hiring platform that matches contractors with carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other craft workers based on verified skills assessments and location, delivering candidates for direct hire rather than temporary placement. It is a lower-cost alternative to agency markups for contractors that want to grow their own crews.
Strengths:
- Skills-based matching for craft roles
- Direct hire without staffing markups
- Growing national craft worker base
Limitations:
- No temporary or project labor
- Newer platform with coverage still expanding
10. Trillium Construction Services
Type: Construction and skilled trades staffing (Trillium Staffing) Headquarters: Lansing, MI Best for: Commercial and industrial contractors in the Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest that want a family-owned staffing partner for trades
Trillium Construction Services is the construction and skilled trades division of Trillium Staffing, a privately held company with branches across the Midwest, Southeast, and Southwest. It supplies electricians, carpenters, welders, pipefitters, and laborers for commercial and industrial projects and handles safety orientation and compliance.
Strengths:
- Privately held and relationship-driven
- Construction-specific division
- Solid Midwest and Southeast coverage
Limitations:
- Smaller national footprint
- Less technology than national competitors
How to choose a skilled trades staffing agency
Decide what level of craft you need and for how long. Journeyman and master-level electricians, pipefitters, and millwrights for multi-month projects are the strength of Tradesmen International, Aerotek, and PeopleReady Skilled Trades, which verify licenses and certifications and carry deep benches. Daily and weekly labor with some craft skills is where franchised branch networks such as Labor Finders, LaborMax, and HireQuest excel. Energy and infrastructure owners should look at RigUp, and contractors who want to build permanent crews can use Skillit for direct hiring.
Verify safety and compliance before price. Ask for the agency's experience modification rate, OSHA 10 and 30 training policies, and how it verifies licenses and certifications such as journeyman cards and welding certs. Skilled trades bill rates in 2025 typically ran $45 to $80 per hour depending on trade, market, and per diem, with markups of 40 to 65 percent over the worker's pay. Temp-to-hire conversion fees generally fall after 500 to 700 hours.
For engineering and design roles on the same projects, see our engineering and manufacturing recruiting firms list; for the broader market, see temp staffing agencies.
How Noon fits alongside skilled trades staffing agencies
Agencies keep projects moving, but contractors and manufacturers that want to control cost and quality eventually hire their own foremen, superintendents, maintenance leads, and permanent craft workers. Noon is an AI recruiter that helps those teams run direct hiring: it sources candidates across the open web and trade registries, screens them against role requirements, and runs personalized email and SMS outreach so hiring managers spend their time on interviews.
Noon offers one flat plan with unlimited roles and seats. See pricing or compare tools in our staffing agency software guide.
FAQ
What does a skilled trades staffing agency do? A skilled trades staffing agency recruits, verifies, and employs electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, and other craft workers and assigns them to contractors, manufacturers, and facilities on temporary, project, or temp-to-hire terms, handling payroll, workers' compensation, and safety orientation.
How much do skilled trades staffing agencies charge? Bill rates typically run $45 to $80 per hour depending on the trade and market, reflecting a 40 to 65 percent markup over the worker's pay to cover workers' compensation, taxes, screening, and margin. Per diem for traveling craft workers is usually billed separately.
Which is the largest skilled trades staffing company? Tradesmen International is generally regarded as the largest dedicated skilled trades staffing company in the United States, followed by Aerotek and PeopleReady Skilled Trades (formerly CLP Resources).
Can staffing agencies provide licensed electricians and plumbers? Yes. Reputable agencies verify state licenses, journeyman cards, and certifications before placement. Confirm which licenses are required in your jurisdiction and ask the agency how it documents verification.
How quickly can an agency provide skilled tradespeople? Common trades such as carpenters, laborers, and general electricians can often be dispatched within one to three days from branch-based agencies. Specialized or licensed roles such as master electricians, certified welders, and millwrights typically take one to three weeks.
About the author
Rey Sivji works on growth at Noon AI and researched and compiled this list. Have a correction, a firm that belongs on it, or a question about choosing an agency? Email rey@noon.ai.
