Light Industrial Staffing: Has the Game Changed?

Republished from Staffing Forward Magazine

As President & COO of AtWork Group – a highly successful staffing franchise with over 100 locations across 30 states – Jason Leverant has seen firsthand how light industrial staffing has evolved over the years. We sat down with Jason to discuss his upcoming panel talk at SIA Executive Forum North America on the topic of light industrial staffing and the need to adapt to evolving client priorities and workforce dynamics.

The State of Industrial Staffing

When asked about the state of light industrial staffing, Leverant mentioned that while many in the industrial space are in ‘panic mode’ and feeling uncertain about the future, he has a different approach.

“I think we’re in a reset versus a wholesale collapse of our vertical. Right now we are reinventing who we are as an industry and how we deliver value to customers. Many who have experienced significant downturns in their business are feeling the doom and gloom scenario, and I do understand that. But I think at this moment, what we are seeing is more a return to the old way of staffing where clients are under pressure to run efficiently and make careful decisions, and our job is to provide real value – and prove it.”

Leverant says that the customers worth pursuing are focused not on price, but on quality and consistency.

“In the light industrial space, clients are looking for safety, reliability, and predictability. In staffing, our value proposition really comes down to four things – cost savings, time savings, flexibility, and risk mitigation. And in this current environment, limiting risk for customers really is the play and a way to differentiate.”

Cyclical vs Structural Changes in Labor

Leverant believes that the current changes in the market indicate a cyclical change rather than a wholesale structural change, because the need for light industrial services still exist and automation hasn’t changed that – yet.

“We’re seeing a big shift in the labor market that is, in my opinion, cyclical, and is likely to change with the macroeconomic factors. But that’s not to say a structural change isn’t coming eventually. In the long term we will likely see a shift where automation will impact demand for roles. But that’s coming down the pipeline.”

In this moment, he notes, we’re in a slow growth economy with a tight labor supply and clients who are more selective.

Enhancing the Employee Experience

In a tight labor market, Leverant says that a key to retaining talent is in providing an engaging – and convenient – employee experience. And while technology can help with that, human interaction will always remain important in the process.

“Rather than focusing on an app or platform, it really comes down to improving the employee experience overall. You want to make it convenient for them with technology like push text notifications, easy platforms, etc. What way do they like to be contacted? Let’s focus on that.”

When asked about AI tools, Leverant says they are taking a cautious approach and focusing on the candidate experience rather than jumping on the bandwagon.

“While we’re not ignorant to the fact that that AI is offering some significant value to a speed perspective, the reality is we’ve not had a problem with getting enough candidates for our roles. You might say we have an old school approach with high-touch and high-service, but you see it reflected positively in our engagement and our NPS scores. If volume ever becomes an issue for our recruiters, then we will be ready to explore options. But for now, even though it doesn’t sound as sexy or exciting, we are taking a cautious approach.”

Protecting Margin

When it comes to pricing and protecting margin during a tough economy, Leverant says that AtWork has held steady on this front due to an abundance mindset.

“The fact that we are holding steady on margin is speaking volumes because the industry is under significant pressure and many are facing decline. For us, it comes down to engaging with the customer and building that rapport so when the pricing discussion comes up, we’re able to focus on the value that we deliver. We collect industry data to back up our decisions, and that helps us protect margins too. I’m adamantly opposed to being commoditized, and I think if you stay committed to education on value and stay focused on that, the opportunity to grow is there.”

Leverant says he also protects margins by looking at opportunities from an abundance mindset vs a scarcity mindset.

“In a scarcity mindset, you might get an opportunity at a low rate and think ‘I need to take this business because I won’t get another chance’. But with an abundance mindset, you would look at that same situation and pass because you know the value you deliver, and there will always be other clients who understand and value your services.”

Adapting to the Future

Leverant says that now and in the near future, industrial firms should focus on risk mitigation solutions and delivering data back to your customers with metrics and resources that add value.

“If you don’t have that ability now, you need to think of how to do this. We need to be able to zoom out and give our customers data analytics reporting and market intelligence that shows risk mitigation value.”

If there was one takeway he would would like to leave panel attendees, it’s that the market isn’t going to go back to the way it was.

“There’s no going back to the way things were, we must adapt and work with the resources we have. The market and technology has changed, and it’s more competitive than ever. To succeed in this space, we must deepen customer relationships and show that we are not a commodity, we are a service provider.”

Thank you Jason Leverant for speaking with us! You can catch him in action delivering insights on the panel on March 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT.

About the Speaker

Jason Leverant is President and Chief Operating Officer of the AtWork Group, a national staffing firm with over 100 locations in 30 states and more than $325 million in annual revenue. A recognized industry leader, Jason serves on the American Staffing Association’s Board of Directors and is a frequent speaker on leadership, growth, and the future of work.