Owners Strengthen Economic Health of Their Communities, Meeting Local Staffing Needs for 40-Plus Years
Express Employment Professionals franchisees often become trusted fixtures in their communities. They understand the needs of area employers and help people take the next steps in their careers.
With help from Express Employment Professionals, job seekers can reduce the length of their searches. The hunt typically lasts longer than a year for 25% of job candidates, according to Monster.com, a global employment website and job search engine. As of August 2026, the median duration of unemployment was about 80 days, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Businesses suffer when positions go unfilled, too, of course — having trouble meeting deadlines and quality expectations, as well as overworking and stressing staff members who must pick up the slack.
By shortening the timeline, Express Employment Professionals franchisees help businesses and individuals, while strengthening the economic health of their communities. Melissa Davis (below), vice president of franchising for Express Employment Professionals, shares her insights on how franchise owners make a local impact.
1. What makes Express Employment Professionals a valuable resource for local businesses and job seekers?
Express is the bridge between local businesses that need great people and people who need great jobs. We offer a variety of staffing solutions across multiple industries, giving local employers a single partner for virtually all of their workforce needs. With more than 40 years of experience and more than 850 locations worldwide, we’ve built a model that delivers fast, reliable results in communities of all sizes.
Every Express office is locally owned and operated by a franchise owner who lives in the community they serve. On average, an Express office places around 600 job seekers each year, connecting them with meaningful employment while helping local businesses grow stronger. It’s a purpose-driven business that generates real economic impact at the neighborhood level.
2. What are some of the biggest employment needs you are seeing in communities today?
Businesses across the country are navigating a rapidly shifting labor market — many still struggle to find reliable, qualified workers, especially in light industrial, skilled trades and administrative roles. At the same time, job seekers want flexibility, opportunity and a path forward. Express franchise owners are uniquely positioned to meet both of those needs by serving as a trusted local resource that matches the right people with the right opportunities.
3. How do Express franchisees build relationships with local businesses, job seekers and community leaders?
Express is a relationship business at its core. Our franchise owners succeed by getting out into their communities, meeting with business leaders face-to-face and becoming a known and trusted workforce partner. They build credibility through consistent, high-quality service and by being actively involved in local chambers of commerce, workforce boards and business organizations. That relationship-first approach is a big reason our average franchise owner stays with Express for more than 10 years — they become a fixture in their communities.
4. How do Express franchisees make a meaningful impact in their communities?
One of the things I’m most proud of is how our franchise owners rally around their communities in times of need — whether it’s partnering with local workforce development agencies to help displaced workers find new careers, or hosting job fairs that connect hundreds of candidates with employers in a single day. Our owners regularly support initiatives that put people back on their feet, and many go beyond staffing by mentoring job seekers on résumé writing, interviewing skills and career planning.
5. What kind of support do franchisees receive?
Express has more than 475 professionals at its international headquarters (above) in Oklahoma City dedicated to supporting franchise owners with marketing resources, sales coaching, training, technology and community engagement strategies. From national marketing campaigns that drive brand awareness to local tools that help owners build relationships in their own backyards, the support system is comprehensive and ongoing.
6. Why is local trust so important in the staffing and employment business?
When a business trusts you with their hiring — or a job seeker trusts you with their livelihood — that’s about as personal as a business relationship gets. Staffing isn’t a transactional business; it’s built on knowing your clients’ operations, understanding your candidates’ strengths and delivering on your promises day after day. Local owners with skin in the game earn trust in a way that a national call center or app never could.
Learn more about the Express Employment Professionals franchise opportunity.
