KellyOCG + Sevenstep Named No. 1 Provider of Total Workforce Solutions

Rhea-AI Summary

KellyOCG + Sevenstep (Nasdaq: KELYA) was named No. 1 on HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings: Total Workforce Solutions on December 17, 2025. The ranking is based entirely on customer feedback from nearly 500 MSP and RPO buyers and assesses breadth of service, quality of service, deal size, and customer satisfaction.

The business also claimed the top spot for Quality of Service and Breadth of Service, and was previously listed on HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen for MSP and RPO. Management credits its Helix and Sevayo Insights tech stack, integrated MSP+RPO model, and Talent Unbounded consulting for the recognition.

Positive

• Named No. 1 on HRO Today 2025 Baker’s Dozen for Total Workforce Solutions (Dec 17, 2025)
• Ranked highest in Quality of Service and Breadth of Service
• Previously listed on 2025 Baker’s Dozen for both MSP and RPO
• Highlights proprietary tech: Helix and Sevayo Insights for data integration and predictive analytics

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Industry ranking No. 1 2025 Baker’s Dozen Total Workforce Solutions

Customer survey base nearly 500 companies MSP and RPO buyer survey for HRO Today rankings

Q3 2025 revenue $935.0M Third-quarter 2025 results, down 9.9% year-over-year

Operating loss $102.1M Q3 2025, driven by non-cash goodwill impairment

Goodwill impairment $102.0M Non-cash charge related to MRP and Softworld units in Q3 2025

Adjusted EBITDA $16.5M Q3 2025, margin 1.8%

Quarterly dividend $0.075 Dividend declared, payable Dec 3, 2025

Forecast revenue change 12%–14% decline Expected year-over-year revenue change in fiscal Q4 2025

Market Reality Check

$9.14 Last Close

Volume Volume 279,871 vs 20-day average 585,063 (relative volume 0.48), suggesting muted pre-news trading. low

Technical Shares at $8.90, trading below 200-day MA of $12.07 and well under the $15.11 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

While KELYA was down 0.89%, closely related KELYB gained 1.67% and peers KFRC and BBSI rose 1.23% and 1.88%, indicating today’s weakness was more stock-specific than sector-driven.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 17	Education standards launch	Positive	+2.4%	Launch of LEARN competency standards to support substitute educators.
Nov 12	AI workforce report	Neutral	-1.8%	Release of Global Re:work Report on executive and worker views of AI.
Nov 06	Q3 2025 earnings	Negative	-17.9%	Q3 revenue decline, goodwill impairment, and guidance for lower Q4 revenue.
Nov 04	Investor conferences	Neutral	+0.4%	Planned participation in several investor conferences through December.
Oct 28	Industry leadership award	Positive	-1.8%	KellyOCG named Leader and Star Performer on Everest Group PEAK Matrix.

Pattern Detected

Operational/earnings setbacks have drawn sharp negative reactions, while recognition- and initiative-focused news has produced mixed or modestly positive moves.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Kelly has balanced business challenges with brand and capability wins. On Nov 6, 2025, Q3 results showed a net loss and goodwill impairment, and the stock fell sharply. Subsequent filings detailed leadership transitions and compensation changes. At the same time, KellyOCG has earned industry recognition, including Everest Group leadership status on Oct 28, 2025 and education-focused LEARN Standards launched on Nov 17, 2025, which saw a small price gain. Today’s No. 1 ranking further extends that recognition theme for KellyOCG and Sevenstep.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights KellyOCG + Sevenstep’s No. 1 position in HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen rankings for total workforce solutions, based on feedback from nearly 500 MSP and RPO customers. It reinforces an ongoing theme of industry recognition following earlier Everest Group leadership status. Investors may watch how this brand strength interacts with fundamentals shaped by Q3 revenue of $935.0M, recent goodwill impairments, and leadership transitions disclosed in recent SEC filings.

Key Terms

managed services provider financial

"ranking the top suppliers of managed services provider (MSP) and recruitment..."

A managed services provider (MSP) is a company that delivers ongoing technical support and IT functions to other businesses on a subscription or contract basis—think of it as hiring a building maintenance crew that keeps systems running so the owner can focus on core work. For investors, MSPs matter because their recurring contracts tend to create predictable revenue, higher customer retention and scalable margins, which can make cash flow and growth more reliable.

recruitment process outsourcing financial

"suppliers of managed services provider (MSP) and recruitment process outsourcing..."

A service where a company outsources all or part of its hiring activities to an external specialist that manages sourcing, screening, interviewing and onboarding candidates. Think of it like hiring a catering company to handle every meal at an event so the host can focus on other tasks; for investors, it matters because it can lower and stabilize recruiting costs, speed workforce scaling, improve hiring quality, and shift hiring risk off the company’s balance sheet.

synthetic labor technical

"engage third-party workers, including contingent, professional services, and synthetic labor."

Synthetic labor describes work carried out by non‑human systems—software bots, AI agents, or automated machines—that perform tasks people used to do, from customer service chats to data analysis. For investors, it matters because replacing or augmenting human workers can cut costs, speed up output and change competitive dynamics, while also creating potential regulatory, ethical and retraining costs—like swapping a full team for a set of smart tools in a business.

predictive analytics technical

"Sevayo® Insights data integration and predictive analytics technology."

Predictive analytics uses historical data and patterns to estimate future outcomes, like sales, customer behavior, or operational problems. For investors it matters because it turns past signals into probable forecasts—similar to a weather forecast or traffic app—helping assess potential risks, spot opportunities, and prioritize where to allocate capital, while remembering that predictions carry uncertainty and are not guarantees.

data integration technical

"proprietary Kelly Helix and Sevayo® Insights data integration and predictive analytics..."

Combining information from different systems and sources into a single, consistent view so decision-makers can analyze it reliably; think of merging multiple spreadsheets into one clean dashboard. For investors, strong data integration means faster, clearer insight into sales, costs, risks and trends, reducing mistakes and enabling timelier decisions about buying, holding or selling a stock.

contingent workforce financial

"access the entire contingent workforce and permanent hire talent supply chain"

A contingent workforce is the collection of non‑permanent workers a company uses on short‑term or as‑needed contracts—such as freelancers, contractors, temporary staff and gig workers—rather than hiring them as full‑time employees. For investors, it matters because relying on rented labor is like leasing equipment instead of buying: it can lower fixed costs and add flexibility, but also creates variability in expenses, legal and benefit exposures, and operational or reputational risks that can affect profitability and predictability.

total workforce solutions financial

"2025 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings®: Total Workforce Solutions."

A coordinated set of services that helps organizations hire, manage, pay and comply with rules for all types of workers — full‑time employees, temporary staff, contractors and freelancers — across locations and roles. Investors care because it turns a scattered hiring process into a predictable, scalable operation that can reduce costs, limit legal risk and make revenue more reliable; think of it as a single toolbox that keeps a company's staffing engine running smoothly.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Business tops HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings

TROY, Mich., Dec. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KellyOCG® + Sevenstep, the outsourced solutions business of leading specialty talent provider Kelly® (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB), has claimed the No. 1 spot on HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings®: Total Workforce Solutions. The list is a global industry benchmark, ranking the top suppliers of managed services provider (MSP) and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) solutions entirely on customer feedback.

“This recognition highlights the trust we build with clients as we empower them to access the entire contingent workforce and permanent hire talent supply chain,” said Tammy Browning, group president, Enterprise Talent Management, Kelly. “Data-driven visibility across all talent types, mature and innovative total workforce practices, and agile global resources give us an advantage for building and sustaining the right mix of workers for optimal efficiency, cost-control, and outcomes. Our AI-powered proprietary tech stack, Helix and Sevayo® Insights, provides clients with deep talent insights and tailored workforce solutions to respond to any challenge today.”

Total workforce solutions providers integrate their MSP and RPO capabilities to give clients a holistic approach to sourcing, recruiting, hiring, and onboarding, resulting in greater cost control, workforce visibility, and business efficiency. HRO Today collects customer feedback through a survey of MSP and RPO buyers from nearly 500 companies. It provides an objective view of top performers based on breadth of service, quality of service, size of deals, and customer satisfaction. KellyOCG + Sevenstep elevates total talent management by integrating all ways clients can engage third-party workers, including contingent, professional services, and synthetic labor.

In addition to being named the total workforce solutions leader overall, KellyOCG + Sevenstep claimed the highest ranking in the “Quality of Service” and “Breadth of Service” categories. Earlier this year, KellyOCG + Sevenstep was also named one of the top providers on HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings for both MSP and RPO.

KellyOCG + Sevenstep’s solutions have been recognized on HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen lists for more than a decade. The company’s ranking as a global industry leader can be attributed to consistent value delivered through modular and enterprise MSP and RPO services, total talent solutions, Talent Unbounded® consulting services, and proprietary Kelly Helix and Sevayo® Insights data integration and predictive analytics technology.

“KellyOCG + Sevenstep is an excellent choice for your total workforce solutions needs,” Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today, said. “It ranks in the top tier of MSP and RPO providers for delivering services built on its technology stack that reaches across all categories of workers, data integration and predictive analytics capabilities, deep industry expertise, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.”

About KellyOCG® + Sevenstep

KellyOCG + Sevenstep is part of the Kelly outsourced workforce solutions business line that spans all facets of the employee and contingent workforce. Kelly connects companies with the talent they need to fuel and grow their business through recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), managed services provider (MSP), business process outsourcing (BPO), total talent management solutions, and consulting. KellyOCG + Sevenstep combines decades of people industry experience and expertise with a continued investment in technology to produce world-class programs that meet an organization's unique workforce needs. Learn more at kellyocg.com.

About Kelly^®

Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) helps companies recruit and manage skilled workers and helps job seekers find great work. Since inventing the staffing industry in 1946, we have become experts in the many industries and local and global markets we serve. With a network of suppliers and partners around the world, we connect more than 400,000 people with work every year. Our suite of outsourcing and consulting services ensures companies have the people they need, when and where they are needed most. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, we empower businesses and individuals to access limitless opportunities in industries such as science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy. Revenue in 2024 was $4.3 billion. Learn more at kellyservices.com.

Media Contact
Christian Taske
248-561-8823
christian.taske@kellyservices.com

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

FAQ

What does KellyOCG + Sevenstep’s No. 1 ranking on HRO Today 2025 mean for KELYA shareholders?

The recognition signals strong customer satisfaction and service breadth, which may support competitive positioning and client retention for KELYA.

When was KellyOCG + Sevenstep named No. 1 on HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen for Total Workforce Solutions?

The company was named No. 1 on December 17, 2025.

Which areas did KellyOCG + Sevenstep top in HRO Today’s 2025 Baker’s Dozen rankings?

KellyOCG + Sevenstep ranked highest overall and specifically in Quality of Service and Breadth of Service.

How was the HRO Today 2025 Baker’s Dozen ranking determined for KellyOCG + Sevenstep?

Rankings are based on customer feedback from nearly 500 MSP and RPO buyers, assessing service breadth, quality, deal size, and satisfaction.

What capabilities did Kelly cite as reasons for its HRO Today recognition?

The company cited its integrated MSP+RPO model, Talent Unbounded consulting, and AI-powered tech stack Helix and Sevayo Insights.