Express Outperforms Canadian Staffing Industry Average

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 8, 2015) - Express Employment Professionals, the only franchised staffing company in Canada, has consistently outperformed the industry at large, according to a new comparison of the Canadian Staffing Index and Express data.

Overall, the index shows Express billable hours are up 30 per cent since 2008, compared to the staffing average in Canada, which is down 15 per cent.

A direct comparison from the economic downturn in 2009 shows even more significant results. From February 2011 to February 2015 Express increased its billable hours by 100 per cent going from an index of 65 to 130. During this same time the industry growth, as measured by the Staffing Index saw a 37 per cent increase from 67 to 92.

"Canadian Express Employment franchisees are clearly delivering impressive results," said Bob Funk, CEO and chairman of the board for Express. "Billable hours are the key metric in measuring staffing industry success, and beating the industry average by such a large margin is a significant accomplishment.

Their dedication to helping people find good jobs and companies find good people is at the heart of their success. Express focuses on helping people find jobs. If you focus on the right things, the rewards or profits and satisfaction of a job well done will come."

To view the graph accompanying this press release please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ExpressEmp.pdf

The index, which is based on billable hours, shows the cyclical nature of the staffing business in Canada against the consistently positive Express franchisee results.

The Express index shows continued year-over-year growth in volume, with only two periods of year-over-year decline in February 2012 and February 2013. In 2014, Express made up the difference with a 39 per cent year-over-year growth, while February, 2015 showed a 15 per cent decline. Despite the decline, Express billable hours are 30 per cent more than in July 2008.

The Staffing Index demonstrates both the changes in the Canadian economy and the volatile nature of the staffing business. It is based upon the number of billable hours reported by a monthly survey of leading staffing firms, and the index is not adjusted for seasonal factors. The index value of 100 corresponds to the size of the industry in July 2008, when the index began.

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bob Funk, please contact Kellie Major at (613) 222-7488.

About Robert A. Funk

Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has 725 franchises in Canada, the U.S. and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than five million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was also the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve.

About Express Employment Professionals and Express in Canada

Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $2.85 billion in sales and employed more than 456,000 people in 2014. Express ranks as the largest franchised staffing company in the United States and the second largest privately held staffing company in North America. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually. Express launched in Canada in July 1996, with a franchise in London, Ontario, and since then, has expanded and grown across Canada significantly. There are currently 34 Express franchises in Canada - five in British Columbia, six in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, 22 in Ontario and one in Nova Scotia.