10 benefits and drawbacks of working with a staffing agency

For both employers and jobseekers, staffing agencies offer focused recruitment support that can make the hiring process quicker, simpler, and more aligned to your goals. Whether you're filling a role or finding your next one, it helps to understand what agencies do and how they work.

What can employment or staffing agencies do for you?

Agencies act as intermediaries, drawing on recruitment knowledge and industry insight to bring together candidates and employers who are likely to be a good match. Their services often cover everything from drafting job specifications and reviewing CVs to arranging interviews and managing offers.

This piece outlines the main benefits and limitations, with the intention of helping you decide whether partnering with an agency is the right step for your needs.

1. You get expert recruiting support

Staffing agencies offer more than access to candidates, they bring experience in identifying, assessing, and recommending people whose skills align with specific business needs.

Truly effective agencies specialise in sourcing and evaluating candidates, understanding exactly where to connect with jobseekers and employing innovative strategies to attract top talent.

For employers, this means a sharper, more tailored hiring process. For jobseekers, it often results in advice and feedback that improves application outcomes. Agencies also play a central role in interview preparation and negotiation, ensuring both employers and candidates are aligned before a job offer is made.

2. You can focus on other work

Hiring takes time. When you work with an agency, they handle the advertising, screening, and coordination. This allows the employers’ in-house teams to concentrate on other responsibilities.

Find out how we support busy internal teams on our employers page.

3. You get access to a larger candidate pool

Agencies build and maintain networks of candidates at different experience levels. This means vacancies are shared with people who may not be searching on public job boards but are open to the right opportunity.

4. The hiring process is faster

With candidate databases and sector experience already in place, agencies are often able to reduce time-to-hire. This is useful for urgent or time-limited roles.

Our knowledge centre offers advice for managing recruitment at pace.

5. There's less hiring risk

Staffing agencies review CVs, check references, and confirm interest before putting a candidate forward. This reduces the chance of poor fit or short-lived placements.

6. You have more flexibility

Agencies make it easier to hire based on current business needs. Whether you are looking for permanent, interim, or temporary support, the process is the same.

7. Agencies charge for their services

Employers are usually charged a placement fee, which varies depending on the role type, seniority, and whether it’s a temporary or permanent position. These costs should be weighed against the time saved, reduced risk, and overall quality of hire.

8. You may have less control over early stages

Agencies manage the first steps of recruitment. This means employers may see fewer applications, but those they do receive should be more relevant, having already been reviewed for experience, availability, and suitability.

This approach saves time while increasing the likelihood of finding candidates who closely match the role’s requirements and expectations.

9. Not all agencies offer the same quality

Each agency works differently. The level of support, communication, and industry knowledge varies, so it’s worth speaking with a few before making a decision.

Ask about their experience in your sector, how they assess candidates, and what support they provide throughout the recruitment process. This can help ensure you’re working with a partner who understands your priorities and can represent them accurately.

10. Candidates may feel removed from the employer

Jobseekers sometimes feel unclear about the company they are applying to until later in the process.

A good staffing agency bridges that gap. By providing timely updates, sharing accurate job descriptions, and setting realistic expectations from the outset, the agency becomes a reliable point of contact throughout the journey. This helps candidates feel more confident, better informed, and able to decide whether a role is right for them.

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