WHY THIS MYTH PERSISTS For years, staffing firms were often brought in when internal recruiting failed or when roles became urgent. This reactive use created the perception that staffing is a last resort. THE 2026 REALITY Today’s labor market rewards preparation. Many employers are operating in a low-hire, low-fire environment,hiring cautiously but still competing for specialized skills. The most effective organizations work with staffing partners proactively to build pipelines before roles open. Staffing firms are only for last-minute or hard-to-fill roles. MYTH 1