Kelly Services

What Kelly Services does

Kelly Services Inc. (NASDAQ: KELYA) is a publicly traded global workforce solutions provider founded as the pioneer of the modern staffing industry approximately 75 years ago. The company operates in 140+ countries, directly employs 300,000+ people worldwide, engages more than 1,000,000 workers across its supply chain, and places 450,000+ people in jobs annually. Kelly serves 75 of the Fortune 100 alongside small and medium enterprises, spanning eight industry verticals: Accounting & Finance, Administrative & Office, Contact Centre, Engineering, Manufacturing & Production, Science & Clinical, Technology, and Warehouse & Distribution.

The company's product portfolio spans temporary staffing, direct sourcing and permanent placement, master vendor programs, on-site workforce management, business process outsourcing (BPO), payroll services, and project-based services delivered under the proprietary Quality Performance Delivery Methodology (QPDM). KellyOCG (Outsourcing and Consulting Group) is the managed services division offering MSP, RPO, payroll process outsourcing, and SOW solutions with AI-powered talent management tools and the Helix UX integrated platform. KellyConnect operates the contact-center staffing line. The myKelly candidate portal serves as the primary engagement surface for job seekers.

Kelly generates revenue primarily through markup on temporary worker wages and service fees for permanent placement, with growing managed services revenue tied to multi-year MSP and RPO contracts. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with on-site workforce management teams, supplemented by a global branch office network. The company reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.049 billion, beating consensus by ~$19 million, and issued Q1 2026 guidance projecting an 11-13% year-over-year decline (3-5% on an underlying basis). Kelly is the only global workforce solutions provider staffing Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIH) and has received 60+ safety excellence awards. CEO Chris Layden led the most recent earnings report.

Name

Kelly Services

Legal name

Kelly Services Inc.

Website

https://kellyservices.ca

Company type

Public

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Kelly Services is a publicly traded global workforce solutions provider (NASDAQ: KELYA) offering temporary staffing, direct hire, MSP/RPO/BPO, and project services across 140+ countries, serving 75 of the Fortune 100 and SMEs across eight industry verticals through its KellyOCG and KellyConnect divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Staffing and Workforce Solutions

NAICS

Temporary Help Services (56132), Temporary Help Services (561320), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Payroll Services (541214)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Local & Regional Generalist Staffing Agencies (BPACACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contractor Management Systems (CMS) & Workforce Management (BPACAGAE), Workforce Management & Scheduling Outsourcing (Non-payroll) (BPACAKAJ), Payroll Data Management, Master Data & Employee Setup (BPAAAHAI), Managed Payroll Services (Full-Service Payroll Outsourcing) (BPAAAHAA), Payroll Outsourcing & Pay Administration (Multi-country/Managed Payroll) (BPACAKAD), Payroll Software & Payroll-as-a-Service (SaaS) (BPACAIAB)

Keywords

• Temporary staffing services
• Workforce solutions
• Direct hire placement
• Managed service provider
• Contingent workforce management

Headquarters

HQ city

Mississauga

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Temporary Staffing Services: Temporary and contract staffing placements where Kelly places workers with client organizations. Revenue generated through markup on worker wages and service fees. Core business driving majority of revenue.
2. Direct Hire / Direct Sourcing: Permanent placement services placing full-time employees with client organizations. Fee-based model typically with contingency or retained search arrangements.
3. Managed Services Provider (MSP) Programs: Managed services programs where KellyOCG manages customer's entire contingent workforce program including multiple staffing suppliers. Typically structured as ongoing service contracts.
4. Payroll Services: Payroll processing services for client organizations, handling employee wages, tax withholdings, and compliance. Revenue generated through per-employee or transaction fees.
5. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Outcome-based solutions outsourcing portions of client business processes to Kelly. Includes project services, contact center solutions, and administrative process management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kelly Services provides workforce solutions to organizations by placing temporary, contract, and permanent workers, managing contingent workforces on-site, and outsourcing business processes. Core services include temporary staffing, direct hire placement, master vendor programs, on-site workforce management, business process outsourcing, project services, payroll services, and managed services (MSP/RPO) through the KellyOCG division.

Product overview

Kelly Services operates as a workforce solutions company offering a comprehensive portfolio of staffing and talent management services. The core offerings include temporary staffing, direct hire placement, master vendor programs, on-site workforce management, business process outsourcing, project services, and payroll services. Key divisions include KellyOCG (outsourcing and consulting), KellyConnect (contact center solutions), and the myKelly candidate portal. KellyOCG provides managed service provider (MSP) programs, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and payroll process outsourcing. Project Services delivers specialized teams for IT, clinical research, field services, and industrial projects using Kelly's proprietary Quality Performance Delivery Methodology (QPDM). The company serves industries including accounting & finance, administrative & office, contact centers, engineering, manufacturing & production, science & clinical, technology, and warehouse & distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• myKelly: Candidate portal and employee login platform for Kelly job seekers and employees.
• KellyOCG
• KellyConnect
• QPDM

Products and services

• Temporary Staffing Temporary workforce placement services providing screened and trained workers for seasonal demands, special projects, or extended absences for employer organizations.
• Direct Sourcing & Hiring Direct hire solutions helping employers reduce recruiting time and cost while streamlining resume review and interviewing processes for permanent full-time positions.
• Master Vendor Programs Managed vendor programs providing simplified management and visibility of contingent workforce across multiple suppliers through a single point of contact for client organizations.
• On-site Workforce Management On-site management services helping organizations offload recruiting, onboarding, retention, and scheduling tasks associated with high-volume temporary workforces.
• Business Process Outsourcing Outcome-based BPO solutions delivering productivity gains and cost reduction across professional, technical, and administrative business areas for client organizations.
• Project Services Project-based workforce solutions delivering personalized teams for initiatives across IT services, clinical research, field services, and industrial sectors, managed through Kelly's Quality Performance Delivery Methodology (QPDM).
• Payroll Services Centralized payroll processing services handling wage calculations, legal compliance, tax withholdings, and weekly billing for organizations of all sizes.
• Outsourcing & Consulting (KellyOCG) Strategic workforce consulting and talent supply chain solutions through KellyOCG, including managed service provider (MSP), recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and payroll process outsourcing programs for enterprise clients.
• KellyOCG (Outsourcing & Consulting Group) Kelly's outsourcing and consulting division offering managed service provider (MSP) programs, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), payroll process outsourcing, and talent supply chain management solutions for enterprise clients.
• KellyConnect (Contact Center Division) Kelly's contact center division providing staffing, outsourcing, and managed services for call centers and customer support operations, including remote work opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81,200 employees placed annually in Canada alone with 670 Canadian clients supported
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Everest GroupnotableOthers · 28 October 2025Everest Group recognized KellyOCG as a Leader on their 2025 PEAK Matrix for Contingent Workforce Management and Services Procurement. This analyst recognition validates KellyOCG's position as a managed services provider leader following acquisitions and investments that enhanced workforce solutions capabilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TrueBlue: U.S. staffing provider operating under brands like PeopleReady (industrial/blue-collar) and PeopleScout (RPO/MSP). Comparable to Kelly as a multi-brand staffing competitor with overlapping enterprise MSP/RPO capabilities and similar exposure to cyclical labor demand.
• Kforce Inc. U.S. professional staffing firm focused on technology and finance/accounting talent. Comparable to Kelly's technology and accounting & finance industry verticals, with similar temp-to-perm and direct hire business models.
• Hays plc: UK-based specialist staffing firm focused on professional and skilled trades recruitment across 33 countries. Comparable to Kelly's professional/technical staffing divisions (especially technology, engineering, and science & clinical), with a similar contingent/perm placement model.
• Randstad: World's second-largest staffing company providing temporary, permanent, and inhouse/MSP workforce solutions across 39 markets. Directly comparable to Kelly in enterprise temp staffing, MSP/RPO, and digital sourcing investments (e.g., Randstad Sourceright).
• ManpowerGroup: One of the world's largest staffing companies offering temporary staffing, permanent placement, and workforce solutions across 70+ countries. Directly comparable to Kelly in scope, product mix (temp staffing, MSP/RPO via Experis/Talent Solutions), and global enterprise customer base.
• Robert Half International: Global staffing and consulting firm specializing in finance & accounting, technology, and administrative placements, with Protiviti providing managed consulting services. Comparable to Kelly in direct hire/temp staffing model and Fortune 500 enterprise focus, though more concentrated in professional/office verticals.
• The Adecco Group: Global HR services leader offering temporary staffing, permanent placement, career transition (LHH), and workforce solutions across 60+ countries. Closely comparable to Kelly in generalist staffing plus higher-value MSP, RPO, and talent advisory services through its Adecco/LHH/Akkodis brands.
• ASGN Incorporated: Provider of IT staffing and consulting services through Apex Systems and ECS Group. Comparable to Kelly's technology and engineering staffing verticals and project services, with a higher mix of IT consulting engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Insperity: PEO and HR services company providing co-employment, payroll, benefits, and HR administration to SMBs. Comparable to KellyOCG's PEO-adjacent and payroll outsourcing offerings, though Insperity's co-employment model is more central to its business than Kelly's.
• Recruit Holdings: Japanese parent of Indeed, Glassdoor, and RGF Staffing, operating one of the largest global staffing and HR technology platforms. Comparable to Kelly as a global staffing peer while being structurally larger and more diversified into HR tech and job marketplaces.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kellycareersca
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kelly-Services-Ottawa-279439800351
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelly-services-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kelly Services