What happens if a worker from a staffing agency doesn't show up?

Most construction staffing agencies charge a markup of 40% to 70% above the worker's hourly wage. At the Texas median electrician wage of $28.16 an hour, from BLS May 2025 wage data, that's a bill rate of about $39.42 to $47.87 an hour. On a 5-person crew working full time, the markup adds about $9,800 to $17,100 a month.

It depends on the agency, the trade and how close the nearest branch is to your job site. Agencies with Texas offices in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio can usually move faster on local jobs, so ask for a fill time before you sign. On Buildforce, over 75% of jobs get qualified candidates within 30 minutes.

Most agencies send a replacement, and some put it in writing, like CCS Construction Staffing's 8-hour performance guarantee. Ask every agency how fast it replaces a no-show and whether you pay for the lost hours. Get the answer in your service agreement before the first worker starts.

Yes. In most cases the staffing agency is the employer, so it runs payroll, pays payroll taxes and carries workers' comp for the workers it places, and that cost is built into the markup. Buildforce works the same way for electricians, who are W-2 employees through Buildforce. Ask any agency for a certificate of insurance before work starts.

Yes. Agencies place workers for anything from a short shutdown to a months-long build, and some, like Tradesmen International and X3 Tradesmen, employ their craftworkers full time so the same people can stay on a long project. Many agencies offer temp-to-hire or direct hire if you want to bring a worker onto your own payroll later.