Riding the Cycles: What 29 Years in Staffing Taught Me

Nearly three decades in the staffing industry have revealed one key truth about the industry that never changes: staffing is cyclical.

If you’ve been in the staffing industry for some time, you know it and have lived it before. Those newer to the industry may be experiencing these cycles for the first time. For many privately owned staffing companies, the cycle we’re in today feels unsettlingly familiar.

Because I’ve been through this before, I want to share what I’ve learned to help staffing agency owners navigate today’s economic environment. 

How the 2007 Economic Downturn Changed Everything For Me 

In November 2007, my world flipped almost overnight. Between that November and January 2008, my business lost nearly 70% of its revenue. Not over a year, not over six months, but in roughly eight weeks.

If you were in staffing during the recession, you likely experienced something similar. The phones go quiet, job orders vanish, and clients freeze spending. New business comes in, but nowhere near fast enough. And like many owners, I made mistakes during this time, including:

• Ignoring the warning signs of a slowing market
• Waiting too long to right-size operations
• Failing to diversify into less volatile sectors
• Believing the downturn would be short-lived

Looking back, that stretch of time felt endless. There were nights when I wasn’t thinking about growth. Instead, I was worried about making internal payroll. I knew a single large workers’ comp claim could push us into a higher rate category, increasing our costs and making it impossible to remain competitive with others in the market. 

I can recall the overwhelm well to this day. And if you’re a staffing agency owner feeling any of that same anxiety, let me tell you: you’re not alone.

What I Wish I Knew in 2007 That You Can Use Today 

Looking back, those years taught me what no training program or business book could. I learned that cycles aren’t something to fear and they are outside of our control. They’re also something we can prepare for.

While hard times may reveal weaknesses, they can also sharpen leaders. Most importantly, they remind you to stay agile. You don’t need to wait for hard times to hit to rethink your operating model, diversify your business, or tighten operations. 

The staffing companies that survive aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones that stay nimble, make hard decisions early, and refuse to let fear stall progress.

My Next Chapter at ESSG: Helping Staffing Agency Owners Like Me 

In 2024, I had the opportunity to transition out of staffing agency ownership when my franchises were acquired by our parent company. With my hard-earned perspective, I decided to take what I learned to support other staffing agency owners in a new role with ESSG.

Now, I get to help the very people who are living through the same challenges I once faced and help them find new pathways for growth and opportunity. Every scar, late-night worry, and tough lesson shapes how I approach my work today.

This industry is cyclical. It always has been, and always will be. But no owner has to face those cycles alone.

Tough Economic Times Create Opportunity

If you’re leading a staffing company through a flat or slow market, I get it. I know the sleepless nights, the pressure to cover payroll, and the fear of losing hard-won progress.

But I also know this: downturns create opportunity for strategic and proactive staffing leaders, not reactive ones. They challenge us to think differently, lead better, and prepare smarter. The next cycle is already here. How you navigate it will define the next five years of your business.

I made my share of mistakes during that last major downturn. My goal now is to help others avoid them and to give staffing owners the tools, insight, and support I wish I’d had 15 years ago. In the coming weeks and months, I plan to share what I know to help you adapt to the changing world around us. 

If you’re ready to make the most of the opportunities out there right now and need a little support, please get in touch.