Staffing firms are facing a pivotal year. The TempNet 2026 Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia, is getting into the conversations that will define how staffing firms compete in the years ahead.
With a legislative focus that matters and keynotes centered on emotional intelligence over aggressive sales tactics, this year’s gathering tackles what’s actually next for staffing.
What TempNet 2026 Is Covering
This year’s lineup covers the strategic and the practical:
- Casey Jacox, Sales & Leadership Coach, on building sales cultures that move from transactional to relational—and the EQ principles that drive trust, retention, and consistent growth
- Brittany Sakata, ASA General Counsel, on the current legislative and regulatory landscape
- Noah Yosif, ASA Chief Economist, on labor market shifts and demand for staffing solutions
- CEOs Eric Coffie and Tracy Balazs on the real opportunities and challenges in government contracting
Moving into the Staffing Industry’s Future
This year’s sessions reflect fundamental shifts in how staffing firms build competitive advantage and where the industry is headed next.
1. Efficiency alone no longer differentiates
Every staffing firm can now screen faster, match candidates algorithmically, and automate workflows. Technology democratized operational efficiency, turning what used to be competitive advantages into table stakes.
The firms still competing on speed and cost alone are finding themselves in a race to the bottom. What’s next for staffing isn’t more automation—it’s relationship depth that creates what operational efficiency can’t match.
2. Client expectations evolved beyond order-taking
Clients increasingly want workforce partners who understand their business, not just vendors who fill requisitions. They want staffing firms that anticipate needs, provide market intelligence, and offer insight that goes beyond the placement itself.
Meeting that expectation requires a consultative approach and a deeper understanding of each client’s workforce challenges. It’s also where transactional firms tend to fall short.
3. The external environment is adding pressure from every direction
Labor market demand is shifting by sector, region, and workforce type. At the same time, the regulatory landscape is more complex than it’s been in years. Wage and hour law, workforce compliance, and ongoing policy shifts are creating real operational risk for staffing owners who aren’t staying ahead of it.
Strategic positioning isn’t just about how you sell or serve clients. It’s also about understanding the market forces shaping demand and the compliance realities that affect how you operate.
We’ll Be There on March 11-13
Allied Insight will be attending the full TempNet 2026 Annual Conference at Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key. We’re not just showing up for sessions—we’re there to connect with staffing leaders navigating the same strategic questions about differentiation and where competitive advantage is actually headed.
If you’re attending, let’s connect. Whether you’re thinking through differentiation, pipeline strategy, or where to focus in 2026, we want to hear what’s on your mind:
- What’s working in your market?
- What challenges is your business facing?
- How are you preparing your organization for what’s next in staffing?
The firms that leave TempNet with clarity on where the market is headed will be the ones making smarter moves in the second half of 2026. That’s reason enough to be in the room.
Connect with us at TempNet.
Allied Insight helps staffing firms and professional services companies build marketing that creates strategic positioning rather than just filling pipelines.
Let’s talk about what’s next for your firm and how we can help you build marketing that sets you apart. See you at TempNet, March 11–13!
