Company Description
Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) is a specialty talent solutions provider in the human resources consulting and staffing industry. The company helps organizations recruit and manage skilled workers and helps job seekers find meaningful work opportunities. According to its public disclosures, Kelly states that it has been active in the staffing industry since 1946 and has developed expertise across many industries and in both local and global labor markets.
Kelly is headquartered in Troy, Michigan and is classified in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector under human resources consulting services. Its shares of Class A and Class B common stock trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbols KELYA and KELYB. The company reports that it connects hundreds of thousands of people with work each year through a combination of staffing, outsourcing, and consulting offerings.
Business model and workforce solutions
Kelly describes itself as a provider of workforce solutions and consulting, and staffing services. Its operations are organized into segments that include Professional & Industrial, Science, Education, Outsourcing & Consulting Group (often referred to as KellyOCG), and International. Other than the Outsourcing & Consulting Group, each segment delivers talent through staffing services, permanent placement, or outcome-based services. This structure allows Kelly to serve a range of client needs from traditional temporary staffing to more specialized and project-based engagements.
The company reports that the Outsourcing & Consulting Group (KellyOCG) delivers talent solutions such as managed service provider (MSP) programs, payroll process outsourcing, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and talent advisory services. Kelly also indicates that its International segment delivers RPO talent solutions within local markets outside the United States. Based on company disclosures, a significant portion of revenue is derived from the Professional & Industrial segment.
Industry focus and end markets
Kelly states that it empowers businesses and individuals to access opportunities in multiple industries. These include science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy. Through its network of suppliers and partners around the world, Kelly reports that it connects more than 400,000 people with work every year in some disclosures, and more than 500,000 people in others, reflecting growth in its reach. The company emphasizes its role in matching specialized talent with employers that require specific skills and experience.
Within education, Kelly operates Kelly Education, which it describes as the nation's leading provider of education talent and workforce solutions. Kelly Education focuses on roles such as substitute teachers and paraeducators and has introduced the LEARN Standards, a framework developed by educators and human resources experts to define competency expectations for these positions. According to the company, these standards are designed to support workforce retention, educator engagement, and student learning outcomes.
Outsourcing and consulting capabilities
Kelly highlights its outsourcing and consulting services as an important part of its business model. Through KellyOCG and related businesses, the company offers MSP and RPO programs, business process outsourcing, total talent management solutions, and consulting services. KellyOCG + Sevenstep, described as the outsourced solutions business for total workforce and permanent hiring, has been recognized in industry rankings such as HRO Today's Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings and Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix assessments for contingent workforce management and services procurement.
These recognitions, based on customer feedback and independent research, underscore Kelly’s role in managed services, recruitment outsourcing, and services procurement for large and complex clients. KellyOCG + Sevenstep is described as integrating MSP and RPO capabilities to help clients manage contingent workers, permanent hires, professional services, and other third-party labor categories.
Technology, analytics, and AI in talent solutions
Kelly reports that it invests in technology platforms and analytics to support its workforce solutions. KellyOCG references an AI-powered proprietary technology stack, including Helix and Sevayo Insights, which provides clients with data integration, predictive analytics, and workforce visibility. These tools are described as supporting total workforce solutions, job classification, and sourcing decisions across multiple talent channels.
Through its Motion Recruitment business, a Kelly company focused on IT staffing and consulting, the organization publishes research such as the Tech Salary Guide, which analyzes compensation trends and workforce dynamics in technology roles. This activity reflects Kelly’s use of market data and labor market intelligence to inform both employers and job seekers about evolving skill demands, especially in areas such as AI, data, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure.
Education-focused workforce initiatives
Kelly Education’s LEARN Standards illustrate how the company applies structured frameworks to specific workforce segments. The LEARN acronym stands for:
- Leads and supports instruction for all learners
- Ensures a safe and productive learning environment
- Acts professionally and ethically
- Recognizes the whole child
- Navigates the educational setting appropriately
According to Kelly Education, these standards provide role-specific guidance for substitute teachers and paraeducators, including expectations related to understanding lesson plans, following individualized education program (IEP) accommodations, classroom management, and supporting student achievement. The company positions these standards as a way to professionalize and elevate critical roles in the education workforce.
Corporate structure, leadership, and capital markets
Kelly Services, Inc. is incorporated in Michigan and lists its principal executive offices in Troy, Michigan. The company’s Class A and Class B common stock are registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and trade on Nasdaq. Kelly has disclosed changes in senior leadership through Form 8-K filings, including the appointment of a new President and Chief Executive Officer and a new Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. These filings outline executive compensation arrangements, equity incentive awards, and participation in company benefit and severance plans.
The company also communicates with investors through quarterly earnings releases, financial presentations, and participation in investor conferences. In its earnings materials, Kelly provides information on segment performance, revenue trends, operating results, and non-GAAP measures such as adjusted EBITDA, along with discussion of macroeconomic and labor market factors affecting its business.
Role in the human capital and staffing industry
Kelly describes itself as having invented the staffing industry in 1946 and emphasizes decades of experience in connecting employers and workers. The company’s activities span temporary staffing, permanent placement, outcome-based services, and outsourced workforce management. Through its network of suppliers, partners, and specialized business units such as KellyOCG, Kelly Education, and Motion Recruitment, Kelly positions itself as a global workforce solutions provider serving multiple sectors and talent categories.
For investors analyzing KELYB stock, the company’s disclosures highlight its focus on specialty talent solutions, diversification across end markets, and use of technology and analytics in managing complex workforces. Regulatory filings and earnings reports provide further detail on segment-level results, capital allocation, and strategic initiatives.