Jen Frazier

Kforce’s managed service model recently transformed compliance engineering for a global tech leader. Through automation, workflow optimization and a hybrid onshore/offshore model, we helped the client achieve 24/7 coverage and consistent audit readiness. Discover how this approach produced $700,000 in annual savings and 100% compliance: https://kfrc.co/43Papp2 

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January IT Employment Holds Steady Employment in IT remained flat In January 2026, adding 1,999 net jobs month-over-month, according to TechServe Alliance, the national trade association for the IT & Engineering Staffing and Solutions Industry. Since January 2025, IT employment grew 0.67%, or 34,836 jobs.    “January’s employment data reinforces what our members are seeing in the market right now—a labor environment that remains selective and uneven, but is beginning to show early signs of stabilization,” said Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance.    “We are seeing comparatively better IT hiring momentum in sectors such as healthcare, life sciences, utilities, and infrastructure-related engineering, where digital modernization, data, and security needs remain active. Overall, clients are moving more deliberately, approving targeted projects and high-priority roles, and placing greater emphasis on outcomes, productivity, and near-term business impact rather than broad-based hiring,” Roberts added.  A NOTE FROM PHIL There are so many challenges to finding good IT people today. Candidates can send their resume to hundreds of businesses with one click. Fraudulent resumes and workers are more common than ever before. If you need any help hiring IT Contractors or Full-Time employees, give us a shout.

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𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗠𝗠𝗖 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. Nobody is talking about the RPO staffing challenge. RPOs do the heavy lifting before a C3PAO ever shows up. Gap assessments, SSP creation, remediating controls across all 110 NIST 800-171 requirements. They get contractors from "we think we're compliant" to actually being ready to pass. When RPOs can't staff up, C3PAOs walk into assessments where the contractor isn't prepared. That wastes assessment slots that are already scarce and pushes certification timelines out for everyone else in the queue. 💬𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗖𝗣𝘀, 𝗖𝗖𝗔𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽:  1. The biggest complaint isn't salary expectations. It's that qualified people are choosing 1099 consulting over full-time employment. RPOs are competing with day rates they can't match. When you can earn more picking your own projects, why take a salary?  2. One RPO founder told me their most important hire right now isn't a Consultant, it's a Project Manager who understands the CMMC process well enough to keep engagements on track and allow the Consultants to do billable work that they enjoy, instead of admin work that they don't.  3. The CCP cert alone isn't enough. What RPOs actually need are people who've implemented 800-171 controls in a real CUI environment, not just passed an exam.That pool is small and everyone is fishing from it.  C3PAOs can't assess what RPOs haven't prepared. RPOs can't prepare what they can't staff with capable CCP Consultants. This causes the whole ecosystem to stall and wastes assessment slots that are already scarce, pushing certification timelines out for everyone else in the queue. If you're leading an RPO or C3PAO, what's the hardest role for you to fill right now?

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