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Best Recruiting Agencies in Waukegan, IL

15 local agencies ranked by performance and reviews

Waukegan anchors Lake County's pharmaceutical manufacturing with AbbVie and suppliers nearby. The port and industrial base provide blue-collar employment north of Chicago. Recruiters in Waukegan can help you fill pharmaceutical, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare roles.

Agencies considered15ranked by Bayesian-adjusted score
Reviews behind ranking1,402avg 88 per agency
Rankings last refreshedrecently 
How we rankRead our methodology→Bayesian adjustment, m=20

Top 4 Waukegan, IL Agencies

1
Labor Solutions
4.8(323 reviews)

Labor Solutions Chicago South is your trusted partner for comprehensive staffing solutions in Chicago. As one of the top temp agencies in the region, we specialize in connecting job seekers with skilled, professional and light industrial jobs. Our dedicated team understands the unique requirements of the industry and strives to match the right talent with the right opportunities. Whether you're a candidate seeking employment or a business searching for reliable workers, we offer tailored staffing solutions to meet your needs. With our extensive network and deep understanding of the local job market, Labor Solutions Chicago South is committed to helping individuals and companies succeed.

2
Xcel Staffing Solutions
4.8(411 reviews)

Welcome to Xcel Staffing Solutions (formerly The Xcel Group), your trusted partner since 2012 for finding rewarding job opportunities in light industrial, warehousing, and more. At Xcel Staffing Solutions, we're changing the way staffing works by creating real partnerships in the communities we serve. We build these relationships with integrity and respect. Whether you're located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, or beyond, we're here to help you find your next great opportunity. After all, "your location isn't a limit, it's a starting point." Explore how XCEL can help you find your next job or start a new career by calling us at 847.261.2550 or visiting our website. !Hablamos espanol!

3
Express Healthcare Staffing
4.7(323 reviews)

Express Employment Professionals is in the business of helping people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve in a variety of industries, including Light Industrial, Office Services, Skilled Trades, and Professional. Express offices are locally owned and operated with the support and stability of an international headquarters with more than four decades of experience. Entrepreneur named Express a Top Global Franchise in 2022 and has been ranked the #1 Staffing Franchise since 2012. Since our start in 1983, Express has put more than 10 million people to work in temporary and contract jobs.

4
SMS Staffing Inc.
4.6(60 reviews)

Headquartered in Gurnee, Illinois, we are an NMSDC-certified minority-owned staffing and recruiting firm serving clients nationwide. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion drives everything we do, from sourcing exceptional candidates to building workforce solutions that reflect the communities we serve. We provide comprehensive recruitment support for both job seekers and employers, leveraging our national reach and deep industry connections to deliver quality placements across multiple sectors. Our team takes pride in offering personalized service and thoughtful candidate matching, ensuring that every hire contributes to a more productive, equitable, and dynamic workplace.

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More Agencies

5
AV Staffing
4.5(9 reviews)

Founded in 2000 and proudly woman-owned and operated, we are a full-service employment agency serving employers and job seekers throughout the Lake County area and greater Chicago region. Based in Waukegan, Illinois, we provide a comprehensive range of payroll, talent acquisition, and recruiting services tailored to the specific needs of each client. Our commitment is to go beyond simply filling open positions — we take the time to understand each candidate as an individual, ensuring that every placement is a genuine match where people are set up to succeed in roles that truly suit their strengths and abilities.

6
Employee Connections Inc NFP
4.5(1 review)
7
Express Healthcare Staffing
4.5(1 review)

Express Healthcare Staffing specializes in connecting healthcare professionals with top medical facilities, ensuring quality patient care through reliable and flexible staffing solutions. We provide highly skilled nurses, allied health professionals, and medical support staff for temporary, permanent, per diem, and travel positions. Our team is committed to matching the right talent with the right opportunity, helping facilities maintain seamless operations while giving professionals rewarding career options. With a focus on excellence, reliability, and compassionate service, we are a trusted partner in the healthcare industry. Whether you need staff or are seeking employment opportunities, Express Healthcare Staffing is here to support.

8
Matthews Professional Employment, Inc.
4.5(189 reviews)

Matthews began as a Lake County, IL independent staffing service in 1969 and grew to become a premier agency in local and national markets. Today we are still proudly independent and a full-service agency for both sides of the search and placement process. Our success is directly attributed to nurturing long-term relationships with our clients and candidates. We do this by fanatically focusing on your individual wants and needs while providing quick and useful feedback. We do not demand lengthy contracts and our service is completely customizable, as well as 100% free to all candidates. In the truest American tradition, our biggest request is your honesty and cooperation if we are to work together. You can expect the same from us.

9
BG Staffing
4.5(1 review)
10
Staff Force
4.4(3 reviews)

Staffing agency located in the Garland area of the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Metroplex. Staff Force is the largest privately owned staffing agency in Texas and has been providing temporary, temp to hire, direct hire, pay rolling and light industrial staffing solutions since 1989 with 24 locations total including our newest Arizona office!! Contact us today!

11
TBG Staffing
4.4(4 reviews)

With over 50 years of experience and 18 specialized divisions operating nationwide, we are a full-spectrum staffing and recruitment firm capable of serving virtually every industry under one roof. Our teams place executive, mid-level, and entry-level professionals across Accounting and Finance, Technology, Cybersecurity, Healthcare, Legal, Real Estate, Human Resources, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. We offer temporary, contract, contract-to-hire, and direct hire solutions along with diversity recruiting programs, salary benchmarking resources, and new graduate placement support, bringing the depth of a national firm with the responsiveness of a dedicated local partner.

12
Accurate Personnel
4.4(29 reviews)

As a provider of temporary job services and direct hire search since 1978, Accurate Personnel has grown from a regional Chicagoland firm to a full-service temporary job agency and search firm with nationwide reach. We currently have offices coast to coast and continue to grow, while never losing our commitment to personalized service. We've been family owned and operated for two generations, and treat our clients and associates like partners. Our continued growth and success is built on our: - Ability to serve clients coast to coast - Expert recruiters with national reach - Commitment to embracing differences - Streamlined staffing experience - Passionate commitment to safety - Award-winning service

13
Grand Staffing Agency LLC
3.8(21 reviews)

Founded by seasoned leaders with over four decades of combined experience in customer service industries, we provide flexible and reliable staffing solutions from our home base in Waukegan, Illinois. Our team specializes in both temporary and permanent placements, going beyond merely filling vacancies to match individuals with roles that align with their abilities and professional goals. We are committed to transparency and efficiency in every aspect of our operations, including weekly in-house payroll processing and rigorous safety protocols that protect everyone involved in the staffing process. Whether your business needs short-term workforce support or a long-term hire, we deliver skilled, dependable candidates who are ready to contribute from day one.

14
Elite Staffing
3.3(27 reviews)

Elite Staffing in Elgin is a temporary employment agency featuring both full-time employment and part-time employment. Our primary focus is on light-industrial staffing, warehouse staff, packaging staff, quality assurance, forklift operators, mechanics, administrative staff, and skilled industrial staffing. We have multiple offices in Illinois and a network of 2,500 partners within the United States.

15
Quality Labor Services

Established in 2009 and woman-owned, we are a locally rooted staffing company serving the greater Chicagoland area and southern Wisconsin across Lake County, Cook County, and DuPage County. Our specialties include light industrial, manufacturing, hospitality, and clerical and administrative staffing, placing workers in roles ranging from general labor, machine operators, forklift drivers, and warehouse associates to housekeeping, landscaping, and office professionals. We provide temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent placement solutions along with full payroll services, workers compensation insurance, and ACA-compliant healthcare benefits for our placed employees. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week from our Bensenville and Waukegan offices, we are always ready to respond when our clients need us.

Other cities in IL

  • Chicago, IL199
  • Schaumburg, IL34
  • Bolingbrook, IL29
  • Aurora, IL21
  • Elgin, IL19

Top industries in Waukegan

  • Administrative6
  • Industrial5
  • Warehouse4
  • Manufacturing4
  • Generalist3
  • Accounting2

How These Rankings Work

Scores come from Google Reviews via the Google Places API — never from paid placements, and never set by the agencies themselves. We apply a Bayesian adjusted average to prevent small-sample distortion (a 2-review 5.0-star agency shouldn't outrank a 200-review 4.8-star one):

adjusted_score = (v / (v + m)) * R + (m / (v + m)) * C
  • v— total reviews across all offices
  • m— prior weight (20)
  • R— the agency's weighted average score
  • C— the platform-wide mean

So with a global mean of 4.2: an agency with 5 reviews at 5.0 scores 4.36, while one with 200 reviews at 4.8 scores 4.75. The second outranks the first because the score is backed by more evidence.

Multi-office agencies get a single weighted score across locations. Every listing is human-reviewed before publication. Scores refresh hourly. Read the full methodology →

Frequently asked questions about Waukegan, IL recruiters

How do Waukegan salary ranges for the most-recruited roles compare to national averages?+
Waukegan manufacturing and pharmaceutical roles typically track 8-12% below national averages due to the city's proximity to Chicago without matching metro cost of living. Production supervisors earn $62,000-$74,000 compared to $68,000-$82,000 nationally, while quality control specialists see $48,000-$58,000 versus $52,000-$64,000. Pharmaceutical manufacturing technicians command closer to national rates at $54,000-$66,000 given specialized requirements. Healthcare staffing positions align more closely with Illinois state averages than national benchmarks. These ranges reflect Waukegan's role as a secondary manufacturing center serving broader Chicagoland employers.
What types of roles do these Waukegan recruiting agencies typically fill?+
Waukegan's recruiting agencies concentrate on roles aligned with the city's industrial base in Lake County. Healthcare staffing dominates, covering registered nurses, medical technicians and pharmaceutical quality control specialists serving Abbott and other major employers. Manufacturing positions include CNC machinists, production supervisors, industrial maintenance technicians and logistics coordinators. Light industrial and warehouse roles remain steady given proximity to regional distribution networks. Administrative support, accounting and IT positions round out typical placements, though at lower volumes than the dominant healthcare and manufacturing sectors that define Waukegan's employment landscape.
How can I tell if a recruiting agency in Waukegan is reputable?+
Check whether the agency holds verifiable client references in your sector—manufacturing and pharmaceutical employers in Lake County should be willing to confirm placement quality and time-to-fill metrics. Review their standing with the Better Business Bureau and verify any professional certifications like ASA or SHRM membership. Examine online reviews across multiple platforms, looking for patterns in candidate communication and interview preparation rather than isolated complaints. Request specific examples of placements they've made in similar roles, including retention rates beyond the guarantee period, which typically runs 90 days for contingency searches.
What's typically included in a recruiting agency's fee?+
Recruiting fees typically cover the full search process: candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, reference checks and offer negotiation. For contingency placements, expect 15 to 25 percent of first-year salary, paid only when a candidate is hired. Retained searches, more common for executive roles, split fees across milestones regardless of outcome. Some agencies include guarantee periods of 30 to 90 days for free replacement if a hire doesn't work out. In Waukegan's manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, specialized technical screening and compliance documentation often factor into pricing.
How is a recruiting agency different from an in-house talent acquisition team?+
Agencies operate as external partners compensated per hire, typically charging 15 to 25 percent of first-year salary. They maintain broad candidate networks across multiple clients and absorb their own operational costs. In-house talent acquisition teams are salaried employees embedded in your organization who recruit exclusively for you, understand company culture deeply and build long-term talent pipelines. In Waukegan's manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors, companies often use agencies for specialized or high-volume hiring while maintaining internal teams for core recruitment functions and employer brand management.