Minority-Owned Staffing Agencies Verified by NAICS Code
The U.S. staffing industry generates over $200 billion in annual revenue, and minority-owned firms represent a growing share of this market. Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) tracked 223 diversity-certified staffing firms in its 2024 list, with the 2025 edition featuring 177 firms with verified third-party certifications.
Relevant NAICS Codes for Staffing
Two primary NAICS codes cover staffing operations:
- 561311 — Employment Placement Agencies
- Firms that match candidates with employers for permanent or direct-hire positions. The placed workers are employees of the hiring company, not the agency.
- 561320 — Temporary Help Services
- Agencies that employ workers on their own payroll and assign them to client worksites. This covers temporary, contract, and contingent staffing arrangements.
Certification Landscape
The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) is the gold standard for MBE certification in the United States. Certification requires that a business be at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by individuals who identify as Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Starting in 2024, SIA now requires proof of third-party certification for inclusion on its Diversity-Owned Staffing Firms list.
Notable Firms in This Dataset
| Firm | Specialty | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| ActOne Group | Full-spectrum workforce solutions | 28,000+ clients, 2,600 employees worldwide |
| DIVERSANT | IT staffing | Largest African-American owned IT staffing firm in the U.S. |
| Alpha Business Solutions | Payrolling and employer of record | Largest African-American male-owned EOR firm |
| Equity Staffing Group | Consulting and contingent labor | $50–100M revenue, Native American-owned |
Why NAICS Filtering Matters for Procurement
Corporate supplier diversity programs and government procurement teams routinely filter vendors by NAICS code to match contract requirements. A staffing vendor classified under 561320 can fulfill temporary labor contracts, while one under 561311 is appropriate for executive search or direct-hire mandates. Cross-referencing NAICS codes with MBE certification status allows procurement teams to quickly identify compliant suppliers for diversity spend targets.