Staffing Agency vs. Recruitment Agency: What's the Difference in Ontario?
Not sure whether you need a staffing agency or a recruitment agency? We break down the key differences for Ontario businesses.
What Is a Staffing Agency?
A staffing agency focuses on placing workers — typically into temporary, contract, or temp-to-perm roles. The agency acts as the employer of record during the placement, handling payroll, benefits, and HR administration.
Staffing agencies are most commonly used for:
What Is a Recruitment Agency?
A recruitment agency (sometimes called a headhunter) focuses on finding and placing candidates into permanent positions — typically at a higher level. Once placed, the candidate goes directly onto the client company's payroll.
Recruitment agencies are more commonly used for:
The key difference: staffing agencies often employ the worker during placement. Recruitment agencies facilitate the hire, but the employer takes the worker on directly.
How Do the Fee Structures Compare?
Staffing agency fees: A markup on the worker's hourly rate — typically 25–50% above base wage. No upfront cost to the employer for temporary placements.
Recruitment agency fees: A placement fee — typically 15–25% of the placed candidate's first-year salary — paid after a successful hire.
Which One Do You Need?
If you're an employer:
If you're a job seeker:
Where Does Western Jobs Fit?
Western Jobs is a full-service staffing agency operating across Ontario — from Toronto and Mississauga to Vaughan, Brampton, Hamilton, and London. We specialize in temporary, permanent, and temp-to-perm placements across 47 industries.
Ready to work with us?
Whether you're hiring or job seeking, Western Jobs connects Ontario businesses and candidates fast.