Express Employment Professionals, one of the nation’s largest privately-held staffing companies, announced today that its associates at more than 550 franchise locations in the United States, Canada and South Africa worked 3 million hours in one week for employer clients across various industries.

“Regardless of the struggling economy and lackluster job market, said Betsy Lindgren, owner of the Albert Lea Express office. “We’ve managed to find jobs, put people to work and help employers who need qualified, temporary staff on hand.”

In reaching this milestone Express set a new company record. This is the first time in the companies’ 28-year history this many hours were worked in one week.

“To put this into perspective, 3 million hours is equivalent to the time it would take to build three more Brooklyn Bridges to span New York City’s East River or 103 CN Towers to preside over the city of Toronto,” Lindgren said. “And, in just one week, Express put more than 80,000 people to work at companies across North America and South Africa.

“Express is proud to help so many people find jobs,” Lindgren said. “We are seeing companies start to hire as productivity increases, and we are hearing from clients that their business is picking up.”

The Albert Lea Express Employment Professionals franchise began operation in 1992 and serves the Albert Lea and Austin areas with temporary help and direct hire employees in a variety of fields, including administrative, commercial, data processing, technical, sales, marketing and more.

Worldwide, Express Employment Professionals puts nearly 300,000 people to work each year and has more than 550 offices in three countries. Express provides expertise in evaluation hire, temporary staffing, professional search and human resources and works across a wide variety of industries. Sales for the Oklahoma City-based company totaled more than $1.9 billion in 2010.

The Albert Lea Office, located at 1410 West Main is currently accepting applications. For more information, call 507-373-2826 or 800-373-2826 or visit www.expresspros.com/3million.