James MartinFinding the right job or the right hire in Nova Scotia can feel pretty overwhelming. That’s why employers and job seekers often turn to a staffing agency to easily close that gap.
If you’re hiring for permanent roles, checking out a recruitment agency in Halifax may help too.
But for this piece, I looked across the local area to find top-tier options for temporary or permanent needs. Here are the agencies that truly stood out for local hiring.
How much does a staffing agency cost in Halifax?
A staffing agency in Halifax typically costs a 35% to 50% markup on hourly pay for temporary placements, or 15% to 25% of a first-year salary for permanent hires.
| Service model | Pricing structure | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary / contract staffing | 35% to 50% markup on hourly base pay (1.35x to 1.5x) | Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI), workers’ compensation, vacation pay, and operational overhead |
| Permanent / direct-hire placement | 15% to 25% of the candidate’s first-year annual base salary | Executive search, candidate sourcing, vetting, and placement guarantees |
How I Reviewed
1. Express Employment Professionals
Website: https://www.expresspros.ca/ca-nova-scotia-halifax
Address: 238A Brownlow Avenue, 220 Dartmouth
Contact: 902-377-7701
Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Express Employment Professionals has strong local ties with job seekers and business owners. They offer customized staffing that matches employers with skilled administrative and commercial talent.
When I spoke with a local business owner who used their services last month, they praised the fast candidate turnaround. That speed matters when a role needs filling quickly.
Every candidate goes through a multi-step evaluation before starting on a job site. Training resources and employee benefits are part of the package too.
The trade-off is their corporate franchise structure. It can limit flexibility if you want highly customized local contract terms, so ask about that up front.
Customer Reviews
Great job options
It was very nice experience to work with Express. They are very encouraging and supportive. It was a wonderful experience in all means. Their communication, speed of response, politeness everything was perfect. Shane, Darlene and all the team were friendly and caring. I will highly recommend them for the people who are looking for a job. They have a great job options. You will definitely get what you want. Thank you for your help and support Express.
— melvin varghese | Google Review
Can’t say enough good things
Express Employment Professionals were incredibly friendly and helpful from the moment I started talking to them. They care about you and your work, making sure they find a personalized job which meets your needs and qualifications. Express set me up with a good company where I am going to be able to work for the entire summer, making good wages and having consistent hours. Can’t say enough good things about Express.
— Craig Everett | Google Review
2. The Warrington Group
Website: https://www.thewarringtongroup.ca/
Address: 168 Hobsons Lake Dr Ste 301
Contact: 902-329-3888
Hours: Monday–Thursday: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Friday: 8:30 AM–1:30 PM, Saturday–Sunday: Closed
The Warrington Group focuses on executive search and senior management hiring across Nova Scotia. Founder Jen leads this specialized staffing agency.
They use targeted headhunting to find passive candidates, meaning people who aren’t actively job hunting but fit a company’s long-term goals.
Local business leaders value their talent planning help and interview training. That expertise aims to cut costly hiring mistakes and staff turnover.
They also help organizations build hiring plans that protect their employer brand.
One downside is that the first consultation call is limited to thirty minutes. That can feel rushed if your hiring question is complex, so come prepared.
Customer Reviews
The quality of candidates we met and the support we received exceeded expectations
A special thank you to Jeanetta who was so responsive, collaborative, and a true PARTNER throughout the process. The quality of candidates we met and the support we received exceeded expectations.
If you’re looking to hire in 2026 and want a recruitment partner who truly understands your needs, I highly recommend connecting with The Warrington Group.
— Devon Forshner | Google Review
High quality candidacy pool
I’ve been working with or referring clients to The Warrington Group for years. Jen and her team are strategic recruitment partners who go above and beyond in understanding the organization, its culture and the role to ensure you have a high quality candidacy pool to choose from. They thoroughly navigate all through the process from start to finish. Me and my clients have a 100% success rate with the Warrington Group.
— Jodi Posavad | Google Review
3. Integrated Staffing Limited
Website: https://www.integratedstaffing.ca/
Address: 99 Wyse Road, Suite 1320, Dartmouth
Contact: 902-423-1919
Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Integrated Staffing Limited provides temporary and permanent staff for several industries in Dartmouth.
When I toured their local office and chatted with the team last week, their hands-on approach stood out.
They offer flexible staffing to handle changing labour demands, which is handy when your workload swings. Payroll and administrative management also take some of the load off your internal HR team.
Plus, their recruitment is localized to match regional business needs.
One drawback is that they focus mainly on industrial and hospitality work, such as warehousing and construction. Specialized tech roles may be a challenge here, so you may need a different agency for those.
Customer Reviews
The best staffing firm in Halifax
Integrated staffing is know for its commitment and assisting the job seekers to get their desired work. To be Frank, I am very excited, whenever I get call from Integrated staffing for opportunities. It is the best staffing firm in Halifax.
— P I | Google Review
Excellent job agency
Integrated staffing is an excellent Job Agency from my experience, they will grind hard for you to get that job you looking for, they all have your back. My recruiter shayna was extremely helpful, impressive, straight forward and down to earth. I recommend anyone that’s currently looking for a job to contact integrated staffing . Keep up the good works guys👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾
— Singh Amrit | Google Review
4. Scotia Personnel Ltd
Website: https://www.scotia-personnel-ltd.com/
Address: 445-5991 Spring Garden Road, NS B3H 1Y6
Contact: 902-422-1455
Hours: Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Scotia Personnel Ltd has served Nova Scotia for over forty years. Their local roots mean they know the community well. They connect skilled people with organizations that value reliability.
Their reach covers sectors from administrative support and legal services to hospitality and education. That breadth suits employers in very different industries.
They also bring executive-level hiring expertise and careful candidate screening.
Plus, responsive communication and streamlined hiring keep things smooth for employers and job seekers.
A major downside is that their focus is split between business staffing and au pair, homecare and childcare programs. This dual focus can dilute the time they have for corporate recruiting.
Customer Reviews
Nothing but positive things to say
I have had the most wonderful experience with Scotia Personnel! I found this program through one of my friends and we both have nothing but positive things to say!
Richelle especially has made my experience with the program so wonderful. She’s so communicative and always available for support. Without her and this program I wouldn’t have so many of the wonderful memories from this past year.
Emily King | Google Review
5. Aplin
Website: https://www.aplin.com/locations-halifax/
Address: Remote / Servicing Halifax Region, NS
Contact: 902-461-1616
Hours: Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Aplin has deep knowledge of local industries across Atlantic Canada. They offer customized recruitment help for businesses and professionals.
Their specialties include finance, engineering, technology and legal roles. That covers a wide mix of office-based fields. You can even choose temporary, contract or permanent direct-hire search.
If you’re relocating talent from abroad, you may also want advice from immigration lawyers in Halifax to ease onboarding for hires who are moving to Nova Scotia.
One notable con is that they operate entirely remotely, with no traditional physical office in the city. This can make face-to-face consultations less convenient for local clients who prefer in-person meetings.
Customer Reviews
Good experience
As a first time customer they were incredibly fast and responding to my call within a few hours to find a temp for our Halifax business location. They have been very responsive during the entire onboarding process and found us a great temp! I literally have nothing negative to say about the entire team or process.
— Sarah Jackson | Google Review
Definitely recommend
Jacqueline found me on LinkedIn, who knew it worked that way. She was eager to speak with me and tell me about the client. She was very well spoken and open, so much so that I needed to meet her. While working as a contractor, she was always receptive to speaking with me with anything I needed to speak to her about. She was (and still is) very quick to respond and support me while I became permanent. Without hesitation In would definitely recommend friends and family to her.
— Victoria | Google Review
