Business phone system for employment placement agencies in Pennsylvania
214 employment placement agencies operated in Pennsylvania in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 214CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,497mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 1.6U.S. 2.3
- State rank
- 10th of 51by count
How many employment placement agencies operate in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania had 214 employment placement agencies in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 561311, Employment Placement Agencies). They employed 4,497 people in mid-March and reported $261.3 million in annual payroll. That is the 10th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Employment placement agencies make up 0.07% of the 307,065 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Pennsylvania has 1.6 employment placement agencies, 27.5% below the national rate of 2.3. The average establishment has 21.0 employees against 42.9 nationally. Payroll per employee is $58,116, 17.2% above the U.S. figure of $49,577.
| Measure | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 214 | 7,679 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,497 | 329,566 |
| Annual payroll | $261,348,000 | $16,338,963,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 21.0 | 42.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $58,116 | $49,577 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 1.6 | 2.3 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Employment placement agencies by metro area in Pennsylvania
Census published employment placement agency counts for 8 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Pennsylvania. The largest is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 168 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 36% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 168 | 3,341 | 2.7 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 38 | 682 | 1.6 |
| Allentown, PA-NJ | 10 | 644 | 1.1 |
| Scranton, PA | 10 | 152 | 1.7 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 9 | 192 | 1.5 |
| Reading, PA | 8 | — | 1.8 |
| Lancaster, PA | 7 | 108 | 1.2 |
| York, PA | 4 | 135 | 0.8 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at employment placement agencies in Pennsylvania
45.5% of Pennsylvania's employment placement agencies with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 54.5% nationally. 59.2% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 97 | 45.5% | 54.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 29 | 13.6% | 10.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 31 | 14.6% | 8.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 27 | 12.7% | 10.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 29 | 13.6% | 15.1% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
What employment placement agencies in Pennsylvania use the phone for
Recruiters live on the phone with candidates and hiring managers. Calls and texts need to be logged and routed to the right recruiter.
Calls an employment placement agency in Pennsylvania might handle in a typical week include:
- The recruiter calls a candidate with an offer.
- A candidate calls to confirm an interview.
- A reference calls back.
Texting candidates and employers
Recruiters text interview confirmations and job details to candidates who opted in.
Texting from a local number in Pennsylvania requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs an employment placement agency in Pennsylvania
Employment placement agencies in Pennsylvania average 21.0 employees, so the comparison uses a 21-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $523.95 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $630.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $419.00 a month for 21 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,532 less than RingCentral for an employment placement agency in Pennsylvania of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $419.00 | $5,028.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $483.00 | $5,796.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $523.95 | $6,287.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $567.00 | $6,804.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $630.00 | $7,560.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 15 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an employment placement agency can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 267 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 215, 445 |
| 484 | 786 | Eastern | 1999 | 610, 835 |
| 717 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 223 |
| 814 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 582 |
| 215 | 783 | Eastern | 1947 | 267, 445 |
| 724 | 783 | Eastern | 1998 | 878 |
| 570 | 782 | Eastern | 1998 | 272 |
| 610 | 782 | Eastern | 1994 | 484, 835 |
| 412 | 762 | Eastern | 1947 | 878 |
| 272 | 336 | Eastern | 2013 | 570 |
| 223 | 252 | Eastern | 2017 | 717 |
| 878 | 190 | Eastern | 2001 | 412, 724 |
| 445 | 183 | Eastern | 2018 | 215, 267 |
| 582 | 154 | Eastern | 2021 | 814 |
| 835 | 109 | Eastern | 2022 | 484, 610 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for employment placement agencies in Pennsylvania
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Pennsylvania is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many employment placement agencies are in Pennsylvania?
214 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,497 people in mid-March.
Which Pennsylvania metro area has the most employment placement agencies?
Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with 168 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 21-person employment placement agency?
$630.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $523.95 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $419.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Pennsylvania number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.