Employment agency, also called a placement office, is a service that finds jobs for workers and workers for jobs. It arranges interviews between candidates qualified for particular jobs and employers who have those jobs available. Private agencies charge a fee paid either by the candidate or by the employer. Most colleges and universities offer free placement service to their students. Also, many governments operate public employment offices. In the United States, these offices are financed by federal taxes and are administered by each state, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor.
Many private employment agencies are listed in telephone books and newspapers, and with government licensing bureaus. A number of private, public, and student employment agencies have their own internet websites, where they advertise job opportunities, identify candidates, and contact job seekers for interviews.
Once a potential match is found, a placement counselor with the employment agency meets with the candidate. The agency may give vocational tests and check the job seeker’s references. The agency has files containing descriptions of available jobs, which are supplied by employers. If the applicant meets the requirements for a job, the agency schedules an interview with the employer.
Employment service dates back to ancient times. Symbols scratched on lumps of clay found among the ruins of ancient Babylon indicate there was personnel placement at that time for laborers and servants. As early as 1800, Boston and New York City newspapers carried advertisements by people who found jobs for laborers, servants, and agricultural workers.
