Marketplace, staffing agency or job board: what is the difference?
A staffing agency typically employs the worker and bills the client, a job board lists openings for the hiring business to fill, and a marketplace like GapCrew introduces two independent sides who arrange the work between themselves.
Key points
- On GapCrew, the worker and the employer agree the job between them. GapCrew provides the tools and does not direct the work.
- Wages are paid by the employer straight to the worker and never pass through GapCrew.
- Who counts as an employed worker or an independent contractor is decided by law, not by what a platform calls someone.
Four ways to find short-term help
If you need a framer next Tuesday or a painter this weekend, there are four common routes. They look similar on the surface and differ in who takes on which responsibilities.
- Staffing agency. A firm recruits people, and in the usual arrangement the agency employs them and bills the business that uses them. The agency typically handles payroll and the relationship with the worker.
- Job board. A site where businesses publish openings and candidates apply. The board lists; the hiring business does the screening, the offer and the employment.
- Classified-style posts. Anyone posts an ad and gets replies by message, email or phone. There is no structure beyond the ad itself.
- Marketplace. A platform where one side offers their time and the other posts work, and both choose each other. The platform provides the meeting place and the tools, and is not a party to the arrangement.
Where GapCrew sits
GapCrew is a marketplace. Workers say when they are free and choose which jobs to respond to. Employers post a job and choose which responding workers to confirm. GapCrew does not pick anyone for a job, does not direct how the work is done, and is not the employer of any worker.
The distinction matters for practical reasons: it affects who sets the hours and pay for a job, who pays whom, and who is responsible for site safety. In GapCrew's design the employer posts the pay and hours, the worker accepts or declines, and the two agree the details.
Side by side
| GapCrew (marketplace) | Staffing agency | Job board | Classified-style posts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who employs the worker | Not GapCrew. The worker and the employer arrange the job between them. | Typically the agency, which bills the business that uses the worker. | The hiring business. | Whoever posted the ad, if anyone. |
| How people are found | Search by trade, date, time and distance against availability workers entered. | Recruiters match from the agency's pool of candidates. | Candidates apply to a listing and the business reviews applications. | People reply to an ad by message, email or phone. |
| Does availability filter the results | Yes. Only workers free for each day's hours can respond (a job can run on 1 to 14 days). | Depends on the agency. | Usually not. Availability is discussed after someone applies. | No. |
| Who pays the worker | The employer, directly. Wages do not pass through GapCrew. | Typically the agency, which then invoices the business. | The hiring business. | The person who posted. |
| Address and location privacy | Workers give a ZIP code. Employers see city, ZIP and approximate distance. The job address is shown to a worker only once confirmed. | Depends on the agency. | Depends on the site. | Depends on the ad and the replies. |
| Record of hours | Check-in and check-out in the app, with agreed corrections. | The agency typically keeps time records. | Not usually part of the service. | Not part of the service. |
| Fees | Free for employers and workers at launch. GapCrew takes no card payments. | Typically built into the rate billed to the business. | Varies by site. | Varies. |
General descriptions of how each kind of service typically works. Specific providers differ, so check each provider's own terms. Last reviewed 2 November 2026.
What this does not settle
Calling a platform a marketplace does not by itself decide the legal status of the people who use it. In Washington, whether someone is an employed worker or an independent contractor is a question answered by the facts and the law. Anyone paying for work should check with Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and the Employment Security Department about their own situation, and ask an accountant or a lawyer where it matters.
GapCrew does not give legal advice and does not decide that status for you.
Which route fits
- You want someone to take on payroll and manage a worker for a defined period: a staffing agency is built for that.
- You are hiring for an ongoing role and want to interview applicants: a job board suits it.
- You need people who are free on a specific date, in your area, for a defined stretch of hours, and you want to choose them yourself: that is what GapCrew is for.
Common questions
Is GapCrew a staffing agency?
Does GapCrew handle payroll?
Sources and further reading
Related guides
- How pay is agreed directly between worker and employer
- How short-term construction labor works in Washington: a general overview
- Framer, carpenter, general laborer or something else? Choosing the right help
- All guides
This guide describes how GapCrew works and points to official sources. It is not legal, tax or safety advice. Check with the relevant agency about your own situation.
Ready when the doors open
GapCrew is preparing to open around Puget Sound. Join the early list and we will email you when it opens in your area.