Elwood Staffing acquires CoWorx, expanding to 320-plus US locations
What's the deal? Elwood StaffingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → Services, a Columbus, Indiana-based staffing provider, has acquired CoWorx Staffing Services of Morristown, New Jersey, in a deal announced October 19. Financial terms were not disclosed. CoWorx becomes a wholly owned subsidiary operating under its own brand, with its existing team and service model intact.
What changes? The acquisition adds CoWorx's 45 locations across 21 states, including five states new to Elwood, bringing the combined footprint to more than 320 locations in 40 states. CoWorx, founded 52 years ago, serves clients across a range of industries; Elwood keeps the brand, staff, and client relationships in place.
What's the endgame? The deal marks Elwood's 22nd lifetime acquisition and extends a steady buy-and-build strategy. In 2024, it added BelFlex's 26 branches across 19 new markets, following several acquisitions in 2023.
In their words: "This partnership allows us to expand our geographic reach and service capabilities while CoWorx continues to operate with the independence and agility that have defined their success for over 50 years," said John Elwood, chief executive officer of Elwood Staffing.
CoWorx chief executive officer Kara Rogan called Elwood "the right partner to honor our legacy while creating new opportunities for growth."
Why now? The deal lands in an active staffing M&A market, with 35 deals reported in Q1 2026 — though many of the largest involved specialist or technology-oriented firms.
The signal: This acquisition is notable less for scale or a disclosed price than for extending Elwood's East Coast reach and absorbing a long-established operation while keeping its brand and team. It reflects a consolidation trend favouring geographic buy-and-build over headline-grabbing valuations.
Read more: roi-nj.com
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