Temp vs. Perm: Cost Comparison for Employers

In a competitive market, every dollar counts. Employers often ask: Is hiring a full-time employee more cost-effective than using a temp staffing agency? While permanent employees offer stability, temporary staffing can provide surprising financial advantages—especially when flexibility, coverage, and compliance are factored in.

1. Base Wages & Payroll Burden

Hiring a permanent employee comes with a direct hourly or salaried rate—but also with mandatory contributions: CPP, EI, WSIB, vacation pay, public holidays, and often, extended health or group benefits. With temp staffing, those costs are bundled into the markup—and handled by the agency.

2. Recruitment & Onboarding Costs

Recruiting, interviewing, training, and onboarding a permanent hire takes time—and money. Temp agencies like Manco HR absorb these upfront costs, delivering ready-to-work candidates who’ve been vetted, briefed, and scheduled.

3. Flexibility & Scheduling Efficiency

Need to scale up during peak seasons or cover an absence? Temp workers offer built-in agility. With permanent staff, you may end up paying for idle hours, overtime, or scheduling inefficiencies. Temp staffing lets you pay only for hours worked.

4. Risk & Liability Management

Temp agencies assume liability for workplace incidents, ensuring compliance with OHSA, WSIB, and other regulations. That’s one less burden on your internal HR or safety team—and less legal exposure.

5. Total Cost Snapshot (Example)

Let’s say you need a forklift operator at $23/hr. Hiring them directly may cost you $29–31/hr when factoring in all add-ons and compliance costs. Through a temp agency, you may pay $33–34/hr—but with no admin, no long-term obligation, and rapid replacements if needed.

Temp vs Perm cost, temporary staffing Ontario.

Conclusion

Permanent hires are valuable—but temp staffing offers strategic advantages, especially when cost, speed, and flexibility matter. It’s not just about price—it’s about the total value delivered. Temp vs Perm cost.

Want a custom cost breakdown for your operation?📧 rajat@mancohr.com | 📞 905-813-8182🔗 www.mancohr.com