Skillforce
Skillforce is a US construction staffing firm, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Timonium, Maryland, that supplies contractors with skilled craftsmen across 100+ trades on a W-2 temporary or direct-hire basis. It operates 14 branch offices across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest, serving over 5,000 construction clients from a 500,000-record candidate database.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Skillforce does
Skillforce, Inc. is a US private construction staffing firm founded in 2003 by Rob Cossaboon and headquartered in Timonium, Maryland. The company supplies contractors with skilled craftsmen — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, sheet metal workers, general laborers, and more than 60 additional trade specialties across 100+ trades total — on a temporary or long-term basis through a W-2 employee model. It complements temporary staffing with a Direct Hire placement service for management-level construction positions (superintendents, project engineers, estimators, foremen) and a dedicated Solar/Renewable Energy Division addressing the renewable construction workforce.
The company's core operating asset is a proprietary database of over 500,000 individuals — every person who has worked for, interviewed with, or responded to recruitment outreach by Skillforce over twenty years, all individually interviewed and screened. Differentiated service components include a 16-hour Test Drive guarantee (free replacement if a placed worker fails in the first 16 hours), OSHA 500-certified safety professionals producing customized job site safety plans, certified payroll administration for government projects, and a full W-2 benefits package (healthcare, dental/vision, 401K, paid holidays, paid vacation). Underlying technology is modest: ADP for payroll/time tracking/employee portal and a WordPress-based marketing site — there is no disclosed AI/ML matching engine. Industry credentials include OSHA 10 and OSHA 500 certifications and the CEO's 2007 SmartCEO "Top 100 CEO" recognition.
Skillforce makes money primarily through an hourly bill-rate model on temporary labor placements, with the bill rate covering payroll, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation; plus a transaction-fee Direct Hire placement stream for permanent management positions. It sells exclusively through direct sales — dedicated account representatives for enterprise contractors and inside sales for smaller engagements — across 14 branch offices spanning the Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, DC, Virginia), Southeast (North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky), Southwest (Texas), and Midwest (Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa), plus a traveler program for nationwide placement. Customer acquisition is supported by active membership and apprenticeship sponsorship with ABC, IEC, AGC, ASA, TEXO, and NCCER, a content-marketing blog (Feb 2024 - June 2025 cadence), and PR coverage in the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, and BC&E News. The company remains founder-owned and operated with no disclosed institutional investors.
Skillforce firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skillforce
- Legal name
- Skillforce, Inc.
- Website
- https://skillforce.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Skillforce is a US construction staffing firm, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Timonium, Maryland, that supplies contractors with skilled craftsmen across 100+ trades on a W-2 temporary or direct-hire basis. It operates 14 branch offices across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest, serving over 5,000 construction clients from a 500,000-record candidate database.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skillforce industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Staffing Services
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Skilled Trades (Electricians/Plumbers/HVAC/Carpenters) Staffing (BPACAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Construction & General Labor Staffing (BPACAEAA), Skilled Trades & Industrial Direct Hire (BPACAFAG)
Keywords
Where Skillforce is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Skillforce business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Construction Labor Staffing: Skillforce provides skilled craftsmen (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, sheet metal workers, general laborers, and 60+ other trades) to contractors on a temporary or long-term basis. They charge contractors an hourly bill rate that covers payroll, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and worker's compensation. All employees are full-time W-2 employees.
- Direct Hire Placement: Skillforce helps contractors fill permanent management and executive positions including construction superintendents, project engineers, estimators, project schedulers, and foremen. This is a placement/search fee model for converting temporary workers or filling directhire positions.
- Payroll Administration Services: Skillforce handles all payroll-related administrative functions including certified payroll submissions and electronic filings, charging a markup on labor costs as part of their bill rate structure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly Bill Rate Model - Pricing based on employee pay rate plus markup |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Skillforce product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skillforce is a full-service construction labor contractor that supplies guaranteed, reliable skilled craftsmen (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, sheet metal workers, general laborers, and 60+ other trades) to construction contractors on a temporary or long-term basis. All workers are W-2 employees of Skillforce, and clients pay an hourly bill rate that covers wages, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation. The firm additionally provides direct hire placement for construction management and executive roles, supported by a 16-hour Test Drive replacement guarantee, certified payroll administration, OSHA-certified safety training, and a 500,000-person pre-screened candidate database.
Product overview
Skillforce is a full-service construction labor contractor offering skilled craftsmen staffing solutions. The core offering is construction staffing services, providing contractors with skilled tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, and 60+ other trades) on an as-needed basis. The company complements this with Direct Hire services for permanent management positions and the Skillforce Test Drive 16-hour guarantee for risk-free evaluation. Additional value comes through their employee benefits program which attracts and retains skilled workers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Construction Staffing Services Full-service labor contractor providing guaranteed, reliable skilled craftsmen (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, sheet metal workers, general laborers, and 60+ additional trades) to commercial and industrial construction contractors on a temporary or long-term basis, ranging from helper to master level.
- Direct Hire Placement Permanent placement service for management-level construction positions including construction superintendents, traveling superintendents, working superintendents/foremen, project engineers/coordinators, estimators, project schedulers, and other management roles in commercial, manufacturing, and industrial sectors.
- Solar Division Staffing Staffing for solar and renewable energy construction projects, providing skilled tradespeople for solar installation and wind technician work, operated as a dedicated go-to-market motion led by a National Sales Executive.
Quantifiable outcome
- Fill most staffing orders within 24-48 hours
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Skillforce
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Skillforce technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Skillforce partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors)coreSkillforce is an active member of ABC. The company sponsors apprenticeship programs through ABC and participates in industry events and workforce development initiatives. ABC membership provides access to training resources, networking, and industry advocacy.
- IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors)coreSkillforce is an active member of IEC and sponsors individuals in IEC apprenticeship programs. The partnership supports electrical trades training and workforce development.
- ASA (American Subcontractors Association)minorActive membership supporting the subcontracting community and industry relations.
- AGC (Associated General Contractors of America)coreActive membership in AGC supporting construction industry advocacy, workforce development, and industry relations.
- TEXO (The Construction Association)minorActive membership in TEXO supporting the Texas construction industry community.
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)coreSkillforce sponsors OSHA training for employees. The company is OSHA 500 certified, allowing them to provide comprehensive safety training and create customized job site safety plans for clients.
- NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)coreSkillforce partners with NCCER through The Builders' Table podcast and workforce development initiatives. NCCER provides training curricula and credentials for construction craft professionals.
- Project JumpstartminorRegional Manager Vic Victoriano serves as Vice Chair on the board of directors for Project Jumpstart, a workforce development nonprofit serving the Baltimore construction industry.
- Associated Builders Greater Baltimore ChapterminorRegional Manager Vic Victoriano serves on the board of directors (ex-officio) for the Associated Builders Greater Baltimore Chapter.
- ADP (Automatic Data Processing)coreSkillforce uses ADP's workforce management platform for time tracking, payroll processing, recruitment, and employee portal. The ADP integration handles job applications, time cards, and HR administration.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Skillforce competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Aerotek: Subsidiary of Allegis Group; provides skilled trades staffing alongside broader industrial, technical, and professional placement. Overlaps with Skillforce on construction and industrial craft placements but serves a much wider staffing portfolio.
- PeopleReady: Division of TrueBlue Inc., staffing for skilled trades, general labor, and industrial work. Competes head-on with Skillforce on construction and light-industrial placements, with national branch density and a digital staffing app.
- Onin Staffing: U.S. industrial and skilled trades staffing provider with multi-state branch network. Overlaps Skillforce on construction and industrial placements while also serving broader manufacturing and warehouse labor markets.
Direct peers
- CCS Construction Staffing: Construction-specific staffing firm providing skilled trades (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders) on temp and direct-hire bases. Highly comparable business model and customer segment to Skillforce.
- Tradesmen International: Largest U.S. construction skilled-trades staffing company, placing electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and HVAC/millwright talent. Closest direct competitor to Skillforce, with broader national footprint and private-equity backing (CINVEN).
- Construction Recruiters America: Specialty recruiting firm focused exclusively on construction industry placement, including trades and management roles. Comparable in vertical focus and direct-hire/temp mix, though smaller in scale.
- Labor Finders: Specializes in construction, industrial, and skilled trades staffing with multiple U.S. branch offices. Direct competitor for blue-collar and skilled craft placements, similar business model and customer base.
Emerging players
- All Trades Construction Services: Construction labor services firm supplying skilled tradespeople to commercial and industrial contractors. Smaller-scale direct comparable in core trade staffing offerings.
- D.H. Pace Company: Provider of commercial door, dock, and building services including staffing and installation. Partial overlap with construction labor supply, particularly in specialty trades; a niche but adjacent player.
Regional players
- AP Technical Services: Construction and technical staffing provider operating primarily in specific U.S. regions. Comparable business model and target trades but with a more localized geographic focus than Skillforce.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skillforce social profiles
Digital presenceSkillforce compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Skillforce financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skillforce leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Skillforce funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skillforce M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skillforce
What does Skillforce do?
Skillforce is a full-service construction labor contractor that supplies guaranteed, reliable skilled craftsmen (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC technicians, welders, millwrights, sheet metal workers, general laborers, and 60+ other trades) to construction contractors on a temporary or long-term basis. All workers are W-2 employees of Skillforce, and clients pay an hourly bill rate that covers wages, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation. The firm additionally provides direct hire placement for construction management and executive roles, supported by a 16-hour Test Drive replacement guarantee, certified payroll administration, OSHA-certified safety training, and a 500,000-person pre-screened candidate database.
Is Skillforce a public or private company?
Skillforce is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Skillforce founded?
Skillforce was founded in 2003. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Skillforce based?
Skillforce is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Skillforce make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Construction Labor Staffing is the primary driver. The others are direct Hire Placement and payroll Administration Services.
Who are Skillforce's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Aerotek, PeopleReady and Onin Staffing. Direct peers are CCS Construction Staffing, Tradesmen International, Construction Recruiters America and Labor Finders. Emerging players are All Trades Construction Services and D.H. Pace Company. AP Technical Services is listed as a regional player.
Does Skillforce have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skillforce.
What industry is Skillforce in?
Skillforce's product category is Construction Staffing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAEAB, Skilled Trades (Electricians/Plumbers/HVAC/Carpenters) Staffing, with a secondary code of BPACAEAA, Construction & General Labor Staffing. Its SIC code is 7361.