Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB)

When a staffing giant like Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) reports a first-half 2025 revenue of $2.3 billion, yet forecasts a near-term revenue decline of 5% to 7% for the third quarter, you have to ask: what foundational principles are guiding their strategy through this volatility? The firm's mission, vision, and core values are not just corporate boilerplate; they are the strategic compass that steers the ship, especially when Q2 2025 net income surged 322% to $19.0 million despite organic revenue pressures. How do their commitments-like uniting vital talent with great organizations-translate into actionable decisions that impact their adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) margin, and are they defintely positioned for long-term growth? Let's cut through the noise and see how their ethos maps to the financial reality.

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Overview

You need a clear picture of Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB)-the company that essentially invented the temporary staffing industry-and its current financial standing as it navigates a dynamic labor market. The direct takeaway is that Kelly is successfully pivoting to specialized, higher-margin segments like Education, which is helping to stabilize revenue, even as overall demand softens in other areas.

Founded in 1946 by William Russell Kelly in Detroit, Michigan, the company started as Russell Kelly Office Services, pioneering the concept of temporary office help in the post-war boom. It evolved from the iconic 'Kelly Girl' brand to Kelly Services, Inc. in 1966, signaling a crucial shift to a broader range of services beyond clerical work, including light industrial and technical roles. That early pivot shows they've always been trend-aware.

Today, Kelly Services is a global specialty talent solutions provider, connecting over 400,000 people to work annually across more than 40 countries. Their product suite has expanded far beyond simple staffing, focusing on complex workforce management solutions:

• Specialty Staffing: Placing skilled professionals in high-demand fields like Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom (SET), and Education.
• Outsourcing & Consulting: Offering Managed Service Provider (MSP) programs and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) to manage entire contingent workforces.
• Direct-Hire Placement: Securing permanent talent for clients across various industries.

For the first 39 weeks of the 2025 fiscal year, the company generated consolidated revenue of approximately $3.2 billion, illustrating the sheer scale of their global operations. That's a massive operation, still growing through strategic acquisitions.

Q3 2025 Financial Performance: A Look at the Numbers

The latest results, announced in November 2025 for the third quarter (Q3 2025), tell a story of a business managing macroeconomic headwinds by leaning into its specialty strategy. Total revenue for the quarter was $935.0 million, which was a 9.9% decrease year-over-year, largely due to lower demand in the Engineering, Technology, and Management (ETM) and SET segments.

Here's the quick math: While Q3 revenue was down, the year-to-date revenue of $3.2 billion for the 39-week period still represents a 1.9% increase over the same period in 2024, primarily driven by the strategic May 2024 acquisition of Motion Recruitment Partners, LLC. What this estimate hides is the underlying organic decline, which was approximately 2.0% in Q3, but it shows the acquisition strategy is adding to the top line.

The real opportunity is visible in the segment performance. The company's Education segment showed continued resilience, posting a 0.9% growth in Q3 2025. This focus on K-12 staffing is a crucial, more resilient market that provides a buffer against cyclical drops in corporate hiring. Still, the overall operating environment is tough, reflected in a Q3 operating loss of $102.1 million, which included substantial non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $102.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter stood at $16.5 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 1.8%.

A Leader in Specialty Talent Solutions

Kelly Services isn't just a staffing firm; it's a specialty talent solutions provider, and that distinction is defintely important in today's market. The company's long history, starting in 1946, gives it an unparalleled brand and network, positioning it as a global leader in workforce solutions. They've successfully transitioned from general office help to a focused portfolio of high-value services.

By concentrating on specialized business units-like Kelly Education and Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom-the company is strategically moving toward higher-margin, less commoditized work. This focus helps them navigate the current sluggish labor market and the evolving demands driven by technology and global policy shifts. They are addressing near-term execution while positioning for future profitable growth.

To be fair, the Q3 operating loss shows the real-world impact of a dynamic macroeconomic landscape, but the underlying growth in Education and the continued focus on efficiency initiatives demonstrate a clear path forward. If you want to dive deeper into the forces driving investment interest, you should check out Exploring Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Mission Statement

You're looking for the bedrock of Kelly Services, Inc.'s strategy, and it's found in their mission statement, which is far more than just a corporate slogan. The direct takeaway is that Kelly Services' mission, 'Kelly connects people to work in ways that enrich their lives,' is the guiding principle that dictates their shift to specialty talent solutions and their financial performance, even amid market volatility. This focus on 'enriching lives' is what justifies their move toward higher-margin, specialized segments like Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) and Education in 2025.

A mission statement's significance is simple: it's the non-negotiable filter for every major capital allocation and operational decision. For a company that posted a combined revenue of approximately $3.2 billion for the first nine months of 2025, the mission is the strategic compass that keeps the global network aligned. It's the reason they connect more than 400,000 people to work every year, not just filling a job, but aiming for a career step that genuinely improves an individual's trajectory. You can dive deeper into this strategic foundation here: Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Core Component 1: Connecting People to Work

The first core component is the transactional but essential element: connecting people to work. This is the operational engine, and it's where Kelly Services' specialty focus is most visible. They're not chasing every job order; they're targeting the vital talent needed for high-growth sectors. For example, their Education segment, which provides substitute teachers and non-instructional personnel, saw organic revenue growth of 5.3% in the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating success in a resilient, high-demand market. That's a clear action mapping to the mission.

This component is supported by a global operational framework, not just a local staffing office. Here's the quick math: with Q1 2025 revenue at $1.16 billion, a significant portion of that comes from placing skilled workers in complex roles that demand a higher level of expertise and service. This is defintely a move away from commoditized general staffing toward a true specialty talent provider. They use their scale to offer diverse service models:

• Temporary staffing for agility.
• Direct placement for long-term fit.
• Outsourcing and consulting for complex needs.

Core Component 2: Enriching Their Lives

The second component, 'enriching their lives,' elevates the mission beyond a simple staffing transaction. This speaks directly to the quality of the placement and the long-term impact on the worker. For you, as an investor or strategist, this is a key metric for talent retention and brand equity, which translates into lower churn and higher margins over time. When a company's mission is about enrichment, it means they invest in the talent experience.

This commitment is quantifiable in their focus on specialized, higher-value roles. The Science, Engineering & Technology (SET) segment, for instance, focuses on jobs that offer career progression and better compensation, inherently enriching the worker's life. The company also reported Q2 2025 net income of $19.0 million, a figure that, while reflecting a challenging environment, is a result of managing a complex, global business model that prioritizes quality connections over sheer volume. The goal isn't just to place a body; it's to place the right talent in a role that offers growth.

Core Component 3: Guided by Core Values

The mission's execution is grounded in three core values-often called the 3 R's-that ensure high-quality service delivery: Responsibility, Relationships, and Respect. These values are the internal framework for a company that operates in over 40 countries and must maintain a consistent standard of service globally. They are the non-financial metrics that drive the financial ones.

Responsibility means being accountable for outcomes. When the company reported a Q3 2025 revenue of $935.0 million, down 9.9% year-over-year due to macroeconomic factors, their responsibility is to pivot, which they did by focusing on efficiency and margin expansion in Q4 2025. Relationships are about creating advocates for life, which is critical in a service business where repeat clients and candidates drive growth. Finally, Respect ensures ethical treatment of every customer, employee, and supplier. This human-centric approach is what allows Kelly Services to maintain a premium position in the market and deliver the quality that supports its mission.

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Vision Statement

You want to know what drives a company that placed over 400,000 people last year, and the vision is a clear roadmap: Kelly Services, Inc.'s (KELYB) vision is to lead in workforce solutions, connecting talent with opportunity. This isn't just about filling a slot; it's a strategic aim to be the go-to specialist in a fragmented, dynamic labor market, especially as the company navigates a mixed economic environment.

To be fair, leading in workforce solutions means focusing on high-value, higher-margin areas. We saw this strategy in action during the first half of 2025, where the company's revenue hit a solid $2.3 billion, an increase of 7.8% compared to the same period in 2024, largely driven by strategic acquisitions and strength in their Education segment. This growth isn't uniform, though; the Q2 2025 results showed a 3.3% organic revenue decline, which tells you that the vision requires constant, aggressive specialization to offset broader market softness. You have to be specialized to win right now.

This vision is fundamentally about agility and insight, which is critical when you look at the labor market's near-term risks. The company expects Q3 2025 revenue to decline by 5% to 7% due to reduced demand in certain large customer and U.S. federal contractor segments, but they are still forecasting modest year-over-year adjusted EBITDA margin improvement for the full year. That's a realist's vision: you accept the revenue pressure but focus on the bottom line by controlling costs and pushing those high-margin specialty solutions like Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET).

Here's the quick math on that specialization:

• Focus on Education and SET for higher margins.
• Drive efficiency for modest full-year adjusted EBITDA margin improvement.
• Use acquisitions to bolster high-growth segments, like the one that helped Q1 2025 revenue jump 11.5%.

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Mission Statement

The mission statement is the 'why' behind the vision: Kelly Services, Inc.'s mission is to connect people to work in ways that enrich their lives. This is an empathetic statement that frames their business-staffing-as a human-centric endeavor. It's what keeps the company from becoming a commoditized staffing firm; they are selling enrichment, not just hours.

This mission directly influences the company's operational framework, particularly its focus on specialty talent solutions. When they place a scientist or an engineer, they are pursuing a higher-level match that offers a better career trajectory for the individual and a more valuable outcome for the client. This focus on 'enriching lives' is the cultural DNA that supports their strategy to focus on higher-margin segments like SET and Education, even as the overall market slows.

Honesty, this focus on enrichment is what makes their workforce solutions stickier. It's not just a feel-good statement; it's a business imperative. If you're a financial professional or an investor looking at their long-term value, you need to see how the company's purpose balances business and human elements. This commitment to the human element is what keeps the talent pipeline strong, which is defintely a key competitive advantage in a tight labor market.

For a deeper dive into how this mission translates to investor sentiment, you should check out Exploring Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Core Values in Action

The company's core values are the daily operating principles that make the vision and mission achievable. They aren't abstract ideals; they are clear, actionable behaviors that guide every employee and supplier interaction. These values are the guardrails for a global business with a Q2 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $37.0 million.

The values emphasize ownership, relationships, and continuous improvement. For example, 'We are personally responsible for our actions, outcomes and reputation' is a clear directive that cuts through corporate bureaucracy. Plus, 'We build strong relationships and create Kelly advocates for life' is what keeps their customer base loyal, which is crucial when organic revenue growth is hard to come by, as seen by the Q2 2025 3.3% organic decline.

These principles translate directly into operational efficiency and client trust:

• Responsibility: Own and resolve customer issues with urgency.
• Respect: Treat every customer, employee, and supplier with integrity.
• Innovation: Continuously seek opportunities to improve the Kelly experience.

Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB) Core Values

You need to see past the quarterly noise to understand what drives a company like Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB), especially in a choppy 2025 labor market. The core values aren't just posters on a wall; they are the operating principles that explain why the company's nine-month 2025 revenue still climbed to $3.2 billion, a 1.9% increase over the prior year, despite organic declines in some segments. That growth, even if modest, comes from a deep cultural foundation built on four clear values. You can dig into the specifics of this cultural foundation here: Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYB): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

The near-term risk is clear: adjusted EBITDA for the first half of 2025 was $71.9 million, a 2.6% decrease year-over-year, which signals margin pressure from integrating acquisitions and managing a slowing demand cycle. But the company's values translate into actions that create long-term resilience, focusing on high-margin specialties like Education and Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET).

Personal Responsibility

Personal Responsibility is the bedrock of their operations, meaning every employee is accountable for outcomes, reputation, and ethical conduct. This value is critical in the staffing industry, where compliance and worker safety are paramount. It's a simple concept, but defintely hard to execute at scale.

Kelly Services translates this into a tangible commitment to safety and governance. Their health and safety vision is a clear, measurable goal: pursuing Absolute Zero for on-the-job accidents, injuries, and illnesses for all placed talent. This isn't just rhetoric; it's a non-negotiable standard that minimizes risk for clients and protects the workforce. On the governance side, the company has established an AI Council to evaluate new AI tools, ensuring they address legal, compliance, and operational risks before deployment. This proactive approach manages the complex ethical responsibilities of new technology.

• Pursue Absolute Zero workplace incidents.
• Maintain an AI Council for ethical technology governance.

Building Relationships

The value of Building Relationships focuses on creating long-term advocates out of every customer and candidate. This is where the company shifts from transactional staffing to strategic partnership, which is key to navigating volatile economic periods.

You see this value reflected in their segment performance, especially in resilient, high-touch areas. For example, the Education segment, which relies heavily on strong relationships with school districts and substitute teachers, delivered organic revenue growth of 6.3% in the first quarter of 2025. That kind of growth in a tough macro environment doesn't happen by accident. It's a direct result of staying 'close to our customers,' as management put it during the Q2 2025 earnings call, and aligning resources precisely with evolving employer needs.

Respect and Integrity

Respect and Integrity means treating every customer, employee, and supplier with fairness and transparency. For a global talent solutions provider, this value is directly tied to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy, which extends far beyond internal hiring.

The company's commitment to this value is best demonstrated through its Supplier Diversity, Equity & Inclusion program. This initiative actively identifies and develops underrepresented businesses-including minority, women, veteran, and LGBTQ+ owned firms-as strategic suppliers. In 2023, this engagement led to a 4% year-over-year increase in revenue for their diverse suppliers, which in turn contributed to the creation of over 25,000 jobs through that network. That's a clear economic impact that builds trust and strengthens the entire supply chain.

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

The final core value, Continuous Improvement and Innovation, is about constantly seeking opportunities to enhance the experience for clients and candidates. In 2025, this is an 'AI-first' strategy, driving efficiency and positioning the company as a leader in future-ready talent solutions.

The company's internal AI platform, Grace, is a concrete example. This lightweight internal interface is currently used by 5,000 internal employees to streamline processes, which ultimately improves service delivery speed. More strategically, Kelly Services is actively preparing the workforce for the future: a company report showed that 59% of senior executives surveyed would replace workers who 'resist adopting' AI tools. This data signals a clear, actionable focus on upskilling and a strategic shift toward higher-margin, outcome-based solutions, particularly in high-demand sectors like semiconductor and renewables.