Staffing agencies operate in fast-paced, high-volume hiring environments where speed, accuracy, and compliance are non-negotiable. Whether filling temporary roles or executive placements, background screening is critical to protecting clients and maintaining trust.
Here are the best background check companies for staffing agencies, ranked by efficiency, compliance expertise, and service quality.
1. ScoutLogic
Best For: Staffing agencies seeking dedicated support and fast, accurate screenings.
ScoutLogic stands out with its account manager model, giving every client a designated specialist to oversee the entire background check process. For staffing agencies juggling multiple clients and high-volume placements, this ensures smooth communication, tailored compliance guidance, and quick results across diverse industries.
Highlights:
- Comprehensive packages suited for temporary and permanent placements
- Employment and identity verification included
- Transparent, quote-based pricing with no hidden fees
- Fast turnaround (often under 24 hours for criminal checks)
- SOC 2 certified for data security
Strengths: Personalized service, rapid results, and strong compliance expertise.
Drawbacks: No instant self-service sign-up.
2. Checkr
Best For: Tech-forward staffing firms needing automation at scale.
Checkr is built for speed and volume, completing many criminal checks in under an hour. With integrations into 100+ HR systems and ATS platforms, staffing agencies can plug screening directly into their workflows. Continuous monitoring also helps agencies support clients with long-term placements.
Highlights:
- Automated criminal, employment, and identity checks
- Extensive ATS and HRIS integrations
- Ongoing monitoring for contract and permanent staff
- Candidate-friendly mobile portal
Strengths: Fast results, seamless tech integrations, and fair-chance hiring tools.
Drawbacks: Limited hands-on service for smaller agencies; add-ons can raise costs.
3. First Advantage
Best For: Large staffing agencies with global clients.
First Advantage provides enterprise-scale solutions with global reach. Its services include employment verification, sanctions checks, and international criminal searches, making it ideal for agencies placing talent across borders. Advanced analytics dashboards help staffing managers oversee screening quality and compliance for thousands of candidates.
Highlights:
- Global coverage across 200+ countries
- Employment, licensing, and sanctions verification
- Integrations with enterprise HR platforms
- Advanced reporting and analytics tools
Strengths: Large-scale capacity, global coverage, and robust analytics.
Drawbacks: Pricing can be complex; less personalized service for boutique agencies.
4. Sterling
Best For: Agencies handling high-volume placements with ongoing compliance needs.
Sterling offers broad screening solutions, including criminal, employment, and identity services. For staffing firms, Sterling’s strength lies in continuous monitoring, alerting agencies and clients when a candidate’s background status changes—critical for long-term or recurring placements.
Highlights:
- Continuous monitoring and rescreening options
- Global criminal and employment verification
- Integrations with HR and ATS platforms
- Scalable industry-focused packages
Strengths: Proactive monitoring, high scalability, and global reach.
Drawbacks: Pricing is on the higher side; less personalized support.
5. Cisive
Best For: Agencies working with highly regulated industries.
Cisive specializes in compliance-heavy sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and finance. Its screenings include fingerprinting, employment history, and sanctions checks. Staffing agencies serving clients with strict oversight can rely on Cisive’s deep focus on accuracy and regulatory alignment.
Highlights:
- Extensive compliance expertise across regulated industries
- Fingerprinting and biometric identity services
- Employment and sanctions verification
- Highly detailed reporting
Strengths: Precision, compliance focus, and trusted reputation in regulated markets.
Drawbacks: More expensive and slower onboarding than automation-driven competitors.
6. HireRight
Best For: Global staffing agencies supporting international placements.
HireRight operates in more than 200 countries, making it ideal for agencies placing workers abroad. Services include criminal history, employment verification, and sanctions checks. Its international compliance knowledge makes it a solid choice for agencies with multinational clients.
Highlights:
- International criminal and employment checks
- Education and professional license verification
- Sanctions and watchlist searches
- Deep global compliance experience
Strengths: Worldwide reach, broad service offering, and decades of staffing experience.
Drawbacks: Some users report slower support response times and complex pricing.
Choosing the Right Background Check Company for Staffing Agencies
When evaluating providers, staffing agencies should consider:
- Client Requirements: Some clients need industry-specific compliance expertise.
- Volume & Speed: Agencies filling hundreds of roles per month need fast, automated systems.
- Service Model: Automation-driven tools like Checkr maximize efficiency, while ScoutLogic offers hands-on support.
- Scalability: Enterprise providers like First Advantage and Sterling handle global coverage at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Staffing Agency Background Check?
A staffing agency background check verifies candidate history before placement. Typical screenings include criminal records, employment history, identity verification, and, in some cases, drug testing. These checks help agencies protect their reputations, ensure client satisfaction, and match candidates to the right roles.
What Background Checks Do Staffing Agencies Use?
Staffing agencies typically use criminal history, employment verification, and identity checks as a baseline. Depending on client needs, they may also conduct drug screening, education verification, or ongoing monitoring. The goal is to provide clients with safe, qualified, and reliable candidates.
The Right Screening Provider Powers Staffing Success
Staffing agencies choose background check providers to shape client relationships and candidate experiences. Some companies stand out for speed, others for scale, but the real edge comes from trusted support. With its hands-on guidance, regulatory knowledge, and quick turnaround, ScoutLogic emerges as the partner staffing firms can lean on to deliver consistent results and build lasting client confidence.