What Are The Best Construction Staffing Agencies In Arizona?

Key Takeaways

• Arizona's construction boom is creating intense demand for skilled workers. TSMC's $65 billion semiconductor investment and record industrial development are driving project growth across the state.
• Traditional staffing agencies charge 40-70% markups above worker rates. For a 5-person crew, that's $12,000-21,000 per month in extra costs on top of wages.
• Several major construction staffing agencies operate in Arizona, ranging from local specialists like Phoenix-based Trades Corp to national players like Tradesmen International with offices across the state.
• Direct-hire platforms like Buildforce offer a lower-cost alternative. You select workers from detailed profiles and book instantly through an app while still getting full payroll and insurance services.

Arizona's construction industry reached $26.4 billion in total activity in 2024, driven by massive semiconductor manufacturing investments and data center expansion, according to AZBEX. But ask any contractor in Phoenix, Tucson, or Scottsdale and they'll tell you finding skilled electricians is harder than ever.

Construction staffing agencies help contractors scale their crews quickly without the overhead of permanent hires. Here's what you need to know about your construction staffing options in Arizona.

Why Arizona Contractors Use Staffing Agencies

Arizona's construction market is experiencing massive growth. Phoenix posted its highest level of industrial construction deliveries in 2024, bringing 34.8 million square feet of new space to the market, according to Colliers. TSMC's expansion to a third fabrication plant will bring its total Arizona investment to $65 billion, solidifying Phoenix as a key player in semiconductor manufacturing.

With data center construction booming and major manufacturing projects underway, demand for skilled tradespeople has never been higher. Arizona employs approximately 224,700 construction workers, but contractors across Phoenix, Tucson, and Scottsdale struggle to find qualified electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs.

Staffing agencies help contractors scale up for big projects or fill gaps when regular crews are stretched thin. Most agencies handle the recruiting and screening, so you don't have to spend time sorting through resumes. Many take care of payroll, workers' comp, and other administrative work, though what's included varies by company.

8 Construction Staffing Agencies Operating in Arizona

Trades Corp

Founded: 2022 | HQ: Phoenix, AZ

Trades Corp is a division of HireQuest Direct, which is Arizona's premier commercial and residential construction staffing agency, Trades Corp is headquartered right in Phoenix. They specialize in supplying highly qualified and experienced skilled trades to the commercial construction industry, focusing on carpenters, electricians, plumbers, drywallers, HVAC technicians, roofers, and skilled labor. Being Arizona-based means they understand everything from extreme heat safety requirements to seasonal project cycles unique to the Southwest.

ITS (Industrial Trade Services)

Founded: 2000s | HQ: National presence

With over two decades in the industry, ITS operates across Arizona with a focus on putting talent first. They serve multiple Arizona cities including Phoenix, Tucson, Bisbee, Yuma, Parker, Kingman, and Flagstaff. ITS specializes in placing electricians, millwrights, conveyor installers, pipefitters, pipe welders, structural welders, iron workers, concrete laborers/carpenters, and crane operators. Their process ensures tradesmen are matched with reputable employers on safe job sites, and they commit to keeping workers employed by quickly matching them to new contractors when projects close.

Tradesmen International

Founded: 1992 | HQ: Cleveland, OH

One of the largest construction staffing companies in North America with a strong Arizona presence in Phoenix and other markets. Founded in 1992 with over 30 years of industry experience, Tradesmen operates hundreds of offices nationwide. Beyond traditional staffing, they offer OSHA 10-Hour safety training for all employees, productivity analysis, labor consulting services, and their CORE+Flex methodology for workforce optimization. Their scale means they can staff large projects quickly. All craftworkers are permanent Tradesmen employees who receive benefits and undergo two interviews, multiple reference checks, and routine monthly evaluations.

PeopleReady

Founded: 1987 | HQ: Tacoma, WA

Part of TrueBlue Inc., a publicly-traded workforce solutions company (NYSE: TBI), PeopleReady serves commercial, residential, and industrial construction sectors nationwide with over 600 branch locations across all 50 states. Founded in 1987 with nearly 40 years of experience, PeopleReady connects approximately 464,000 people to work annually. Their mobile app JobStack lets you request workers on-demand and track job progress in real-time, which works well for fast-moving Arizona projects. The platform provides 24/7 access to place orders and watch them get filled in real time. PeopleReady has extensive Arizona coverage with locations across Phoenix and other major markets.

Trillium Staffing

Founded: 1984 | HQ: Kalamazoo, MI

Recognized as a national leader among construction staffing agencies, Trillium provides skilled tradesmen and tradeswomen from apprentice through journeyman levels. They serve locations throughout Arizona including Phoenix, Tucson, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Glendale. Trillium employs a full-time safety management team that offers on-site safety training and certifications, making safety a core part of their business model rather than just a concern. Their dedication to safety principles has made them a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. They offer comprehensive screening processes and specialize exclusively in construction staffing.

NCW (National Career Workforce)

Founded: 2000s | HQ: Indianapolis, IN

With more than two decades of experience working with construction professionals, NCW operates in Phoenix with subject matter experts dedicated to building deeply rooted partnerships. Their experienced team provides a superior level of service by building long-lasting relationships. NCW's recruiters in Phoenix focus on learning the specifics of each client and candidate to ensure successful matches. Whether clients need to hire 50 construction workers quickly or are job seekers looking for their next opportunity, NCW's decades of combined experience serve the construction, manufacturing, warehousing, and engineering sectors.

Premier Electrical Staffing

Founded: 2009 | HQ: Raleigh, NC

Premier focuses exclusively on electrical trades across 9 Southeastern states, with potential operations in Arizona markets. Founded in 2009, the company has grown to approximately 223 employees and $12 million in annual revenue, making it the largest electrical-only staffing company in the country. What sets Premier apart is that their core recruiting staff includes experienced contractors, project managers, superintendents, and master or journeyman electricians who understand the field. Their specialization means deep databases of pre-screened electricians, from apprentices to project managers, for commercial, industrial, and residential work. All candidates pass written exams, background checks, drug testing, and skills tests monitored by experienced tradesmen.

CCS Construction Staffing

Founded: 2008 | HQ: Charlotte, NC

CCS (originally Carolinas Construction Solutions) provides skilled trades across multiple disciplines, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, pipefitting, sheet metal, carpentry, and concrete. Founded in 2008, the company has grown from operating in one state to over 15 states with 386 total employees. CCS prides itself on being more flexible than large national firms while focusing exclusively on skilled construction trades. They serve contractors throughout Arizona and multiple regions with temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire placements. The company focuses on job site safety management and handles all administrative functions from payroll to insurance. CCS has been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list multiple times (2013-2018).

What Traditional Staffing Agencies Cost

Most construction staffing agencies charge a markup of 40-70% above the worker's hourly rate. So if a worker makes $30/hour, you're paying $42-51/hour.

That markup covers workers' compensation insurance, general liability insurance, payroll taxes and administration, recruiting and screening, time tracking and billing, and replacement workers if needed.

For a 5-person crew working 40 hours/week, that extra markup adds up to $12,000-21,000 per month in added costs.

The Direct Staffing Alternative: Buildforce

Buildforce takes a different approach. Instead of traditional agency processes that are slow and frustrating, we built a platform that connects Arizona contractors directly with pre-screened electricians.

How it works:

Sign up for a free account, create a project with your specific requirements, and let electricians apply directly. Review their detailed profiles showing experience, certifications, and ratings, then send offers to the workers you want. Once they accept, they can start as soon as the next day. Manage everything online with time tracking, approvals, and payments in one place.

We still handle all the administrative work like workers' comp, payroll, insurance, and background checks. But the direct connection means substantially lower costs than traditional agency markups.

Which Staffing Solution is Right for You?

Choose a traditional agency if:

You prefer phone-based coordination over apps

You want the agency to handle all worker selection

You have established relationships with specific agencies

Choose Buildforce if:

You want to control who shows up on your job site

You're managing tight project budgets

You value transparency in worker backgrounds and experience

You prefer modern, app-based tools over phone calls

Finding reliable workers is one of the biggest problems Arizona contractors face. Having a staffing solution that can deliver qualified tradespeople when you need them makes all the difference.

If you're ready to staff your next Arizona electrical project with much less administrative setup and work, you can sign up free with no payment information required. Browse our network of pre-screened Arizona electricians and see how direct hiring can improve your bottom line.