Express Employment Professionals has announced that 2011 sales topped $2.1 billion

Express Employment Professionals has announced that 2011 sales topped $2.1 billion, up 22 percent in a year, as employers continue to rely heavily on temporary staffing solutions amid an uncertain economy.

One of the nation's largest private staffing companies, Express helped the most people in its 29-year history - more than 335,000 workers in the United States and Canada - find a job last year. Express associates worked an average of 2.4 million hours per week at more than 550 franchise locations in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and they achieved a company milestone in October 2011 by working a combined 3 million hours in one week.

"Not only did we put a record number of people to work in 2011, but Express posted the strongest sales record in the company's history, generating more than $2 billion," said Robert A. Funk, CEO and chairman of the board. "By investing in our franchisees and helping small-business owners address common business challenges, we've been able to achieve a 78 percent increase in sales in only two years despite the challenging economic climate."

Staffing companies like Express have become a significant driver of the nation's job growth. In the two years after the Great Recession ended in June 2009, U.S. staffing firms created more new jobs than any other industry, according to the American Staffing Association. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the temporary help services industry added nearly half a million workers and accounted for 91 percent of total nonfarm job growth from June 2009 to June 2011.

"In the coming year, Express Employment Professionals and its franchisees will maintain their focus on putting more people back to work and providing hope for job seekers," Funk said. "As consumer spending rises and business confidence improves, the jobs outlook will continue to brighten. We anticipate that the hiring outlook in all regions of North America will remain steady for administrative and commercial jobs."

According to the results of an Express survey of 17,000 current and former clients, hiring trends for the first quarter of 2012 in all regions of the country are expected to be greatest in commercial and light industrial, with 30 percent of survey respondents planning new hires. Twenty-one percent of respondents anticipate adding administrative and office clerical staff.

For 2012, Express projects company growth to top 18 percent. The staffing company plans to award 64 new franchise locations in the U.S. and Canada, targeting Vancouver, San Francisco, Boston, Orlando and San Antonio. Express awarded 21 franchises in 2011.

Express Employment Professionals offers a full range of employment solutions including evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources. With more than 550 offices in three countries, Express is committed to the vision of helping as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. For more information, visit www.expresspros.com .