CraftForce
CraftForce is a US-based skilled trades staffing agency, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kentucky, that recruits and places vetted welders, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and other craftworkers for contractors and manufacturers in construction, automotive, shipbuilding, petrochemical, and energy industries nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersCovington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CraftForce does
CraftForce is a US-based skilled trades staffing agency founded in 2013 and headquartered in Maysville, Kentucky, with a secondary Greater Cincinnati office in Covington. The company recruits and places vetted skilled craftworkers — including welders, ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and engineers — on a temporary, temp-to-direct, or direct-hire basis for employers in industrial construction, automotive manufacturing, petrochemical operations, commercial manufacturing, shipbuilding, and energy. Workers are sourced through a curated network supported by a Trade School Partnership Program, a Veterans employment program, a $200 employee/vendor referral program, and a coast-to-coast traveling workforce model. The core technology is an integrated workforce management stack combining an online job board, applicant tracking, and HR back-office administration (via the Employdrive portal), supplemented by a proprietary sub-brand called SafeForce, an interactive video-based online safety training platform that allows craftworkers to complete required training before arriving on job sites.
CraftForce generates revenue primarily through markup on worker wages billed to client employers under a managed-services model, with additional placement and recruitment fees for direct-hire and temp-to-direct arrangements. Pricing to employers is quote-based and structured as pay-as-you-go, with no cost until a worker is on site, while services are free for job seekers; visible billing rates on open roles range from roughly $25 to $50 per hour plus per diem of $120–$150 per day. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to hiring managers, a channel partner program with HR professionals and staffing/management firms, a community-led referral network, and inbound from the company's self-serve job board.
The customer base skews enterprise, with documented anchor relationships including a Fortune 500 global automotive parts manufacturer and an industrial construction contractor, for whom the company has reported outcomes such as 86% fill rates, 4x production increases, 100k+ hours worked with zero lost-time accidents, and dramatic client-side revenue and profitability growth. The company is privately held and founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors, and operates independently across at least 19 US states.
CraftForce firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CraftForce
- Legal name
- CraftForce
- Website
- https://craftforce.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CraftForce is a US-based skilled trades staffing agency, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Kentucky, that recruits and places vetted welders, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and other craftworkers for contractors and manufacturers in construction, automotive, shipbuilding, petrochemical, and energy industries nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CraftForce industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Skilled Trades Staffing Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Help Services (56132)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Construction & General Labor Staffing (BPACAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Skilled Trades (Electricians/Plumbers/HVAC/Carpenters) Staffing (BPACAEAB), Maritime & Port Labor (Dockworkers/Longshore) Staffing (BPACAEAL), Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC), Contractor Onboarding, Vetting & Credentialing (BPACAGAC)
Keywords
Where CraftForce is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Covington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CraftForce business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Skilled Labor Staffing Services: CraftForce recruits and provides skilled workers (welders, ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, engineers, etc.) to employers on a contract or direct-hire basis. Revenue generated through markup on worker wages paid by client employers. Services include workforce supplementation, back-office HR support, payroll administration, and benefits management.
- Recruitment and Placement Fees: Provides staffing, direct hire, and temp-to-direct placement services tailored to each client. No cost to job seekers - free for anyone looking for employment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No upfront cost to employers - fee charged only when worker placed on site |
| Unit Pricing | Weekly | Entry-level to expert skilled trades positions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CraftForce product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CraftForce recruits, vets, and places skilled tradespeople—including welders, ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and engineers—with industrial contractors and manufacturers on a temporary, direct-hire, or temp-to-direct basis. The company also provides back-office HR, payroll, benefits, and safety training administration through its SafeForce platform.
Product overview
CraftForce is a skilled trades staffing company that operates as a unified platform combining core staffing services with complementary workforce solutions. The primary offerings include skilled trades staffing and recruitment (Skilled Trades Staffing Services), traveling and contract labor (Traveling Workforce), HR partnership programs (Staffing Partner Services), and specialized worker programs (Worker Benefits, Trade School Partnership, Veterans Program). The company also offers SafeForce as a distinct sub-brand providing online safety training services. These products work together to provide end-to-end workforce solutions connecting skilled workers with employers in construction, manufacturing, automotive, petrochemical, shipbuilding, and energy industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SafeForce: Online safety training platform designed to allow craftworkers to complete job-required training ahead of time in an interactive video format.
Products and services
- Skilled Trades Staffing Services Core staffing service connecting contractors and manufacturers with vetted skilled tradespeople including welders, ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and engineers. Services include temporary staffing, direct hire placement, and temp-to-direct arrangements.
- Traveling Workforce Contract and traveling skilled labor service providing workers who can relocate to job sites across the USA. Workers are available for short-term and long-term assignments in construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and other skilled trades industries.
- Staffing Partner Services HR and staffing partnership services offering full-service recruitment support including job postings, background screenings, pre-employment drug testing, skills assessment testing, reference checks, and safety training integration for staffing agencies and HR professionals.
- SafeForce Online Safety Training Platform Online safety training platform that delivers interactive video-based training to craftworkers before they arrive on job sites. The platform enables workers to complete required safety training in an engaging format, with flexible delivery options including partner-provided or custom-created content.
- Worker Benefits Program Comprehensive employee benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) retirement with company match up to 4%, company-paid life and long-term disability insurance, free resume building assistance, and nationwide job matching services.
- Trade School Partnership Program Program connecting trade school students with employment opportunities, offering dedicated career services, professional coaching, resume building, interview preparation, and financial guidance for vocational education graduates.
- Veterans Program Employment program specifically designed to help military veterans find skilled trades work, offering representation services, job stability across multiple states, and access to training and certification opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% revenue growth for client during first year together
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use CraftForce
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CraftForce technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CraftForce partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SafeForcecoreSafeForce is CraftForce's online safety training platform. Provides interactive video-based training allowing craftworkers to complete job-required training ahead of time. Can work with employer-provided content or partner to create training materials. Integrated into recruitment process.
- American Welding SocietyminorCraftForce created and endowed a scholarship with the American Welding Society to financially support underrepresented groups in the welding industry. Part of DEI initiative.
- Trade Schools and Vocational InstitutionscoreCraftForce team visits trade, vocational, and technical education schools regularly to bring students into trades and build viable career paths. Can pull job and skill demand reports to help schools form training curriculum.
- HR & Staffing PartnerscorePartnerships with HR professionals and staffing/management companies. CraftForce provides specialized support for skilled-labor positions, offering competitive candidate network, flexibility for short and long-term needs, and faster role filling.
Scale indicators9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CraftForce competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PeopleReady: PeopleReady (a TrueBlue company) provides industrial and skilled staffing services for construction, manufacturing, and logistics clients. Comparable to CraftForce in industrial and construction labor supply, with much greater scale and geographic density.
- Aerotek: Aerotek is a large staffing firm under Allegis Group placing skilled trades, industrial, and technical workers across manufacturing, construction, and logistics. It competes with CraftForce in the skilled trades and industrial manufacturing verticals but operates much more broadly.
- WorkForce by Indeed: WorkForce (Indeed's staffing arm) connects employers with industrial and skilled workers through a national digital platform. Comparable to CraftForce in target worker pool and end markets, though differentiated by scale and a tech-led matching model versus CraftForce's relationship-led approach.
- Elwood Staffing: Elwood Staffing provides industrial, skilled trades, and professional staffing across the Midwest and nationwide. Comparable to CraftForce's industrial/manufacturing focus and Midwest concentration, though it operates as a generalist across many verticals.
Direct peers
- Labor Finders: Labor Finders is a franchised industrial staffing provider focusing on construction, manufacturing, and skilled trades placements. Directly comparable to CraftForce in industrial labor staffing, with similar service models and target customers but franchised rather than centralized delivery.
- Tradesmen International: Tradesmen International is a leading direct competitor, specializing in skilled construction trades staffing (welders, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers) for contractors and industrial clients nationwide. Directly comparable in vertical focus, service offering, and target customer base to CraftForce.
- Global Employment Solutions: Global Employment Solutions provides skilled trades and industrial staffing across construction, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Comparable to CraftForce in vertical mix (construction/manufacturing/energy) and skilled-trades placement model.
- CCS Construction Staffing: CCS Construction Staffing specializes in placing skilled trades (welders, pipefitters, electricians, carpenters) for industrial construction and shipyard projects. Directly comparable to CraftForce in vertical focus, candidate types, and shipyard specialization.
- Skilled Trade Solutions (MEP): Skilled Trade Solutions focuses on MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) and industrial skilled trades staffing for contractors and facility operators. Comparable to CraftForce in core trade focus, though with a narrower MEP emphasis versus CraftForce's broader industrial/manufacturing coverage.
Regional players
- PrideStaff: PrideStaff is a franchised staffing firm with strong industrial and manufacturing placement capabilities across the US. Comparable to CraftForce in industrial/manufacturing focus, but operates as a multi-vertical generalist rather than a skilled-trades specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CraftForce social profiles
Digital presenceCraftForce compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
CraftForce financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CraftForce leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
CraftForce funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CraftForce 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 CraftForce
What does CraftForce do?
CraftForce recruits, vets, and places skilled tradespeople—including welders, ironworkers, electricians, pipefitters, machinists, and engineers—with industrial contractors and manufacturers on a temporary, direct-hire, or temp-to-direct basis. The company also provides back-office HR, payroll, benefits, and safety training administration through its SafeForce platform.
Is CraftForce a public or private company?
CraftForce is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CraftForce founded?
CraftForce was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CraftForce based?
CraftForce is headquartered in Covington, United States, in the North America region.
How does CraftForce make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Skilled Labor Staffing Services are the primary driver. The others are recruitment and Placement Fees.
Who are CraftForce's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PeopleReady, Aerotek, WorkForce by Indeed and Elwood Staffing. Direct peers are Labor Finders, Tradesmen International, Global Employment Solutions, CCS Construction Staffing and Skilled Trade Solutions (MEP). PrideStaff is listed as a regional player.
Does CraftForce have an API?
No public API is recorded for CraftForce.
What industry is CraftForce in?
CraftForce's product category is Industrial Skilled Trades Staffing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAEAA, Construction & General Labor Staffing, with a secondary code of BPACAEAB, Skilled Trades (Electricians/Plumbers/HVAC/Carpenters) Staffing. Its NAICS code is 56132 and its SIC code is 7361.