KELYA · Read the filing

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Executive Overview

Kelly’s strategy and actions are guided by our simple yet powerful Noble Purpose: “We connect people to work in ways that enrich their lives.” We are committed to being a leading talent solutions provider among the talent with whom we choose to specialize and in the global markets in which we choose to compete. As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, we will continue to demonstrate our expected behaviors and actions:

•Employ a talent-first mentality

•Relentlessly deliver for customers

•Grow through discipline and focus

•Deliver efficiency and effectiveness in everything we do

By aligning ourselves with our Noble Purpose and executing against these behaviors, we are becoming a more agile and focused organization, prepared to achieve new levels of growth and profitability as we develop and reshape our portfolio of businesses.

The Talent Solutions Industry

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, labor markets were in the midst of change due to automation, secular shifts in labor supply and demand and skills gaps. Global demographic trends are reshaping and redefining the way in which companies find and use talent, and the COVID-19 pandemic changed where and how companies expect work to be performed—a shift we expect will carry over into the future. In response, the talent solutions industry is adjusting how it sources, recruits, trains and places talent.

Our industry is evolving to meet businesses’ growing demand for specialized talent, whether delivered as a single individual or as part of a total workforce solution. Companies in our industry are using novel sourcing approaches—including gig platforms, independent contractors and other talent pools—to create customized workforce solutions that are flexible and responsive to the labor market.

In addition, today’s companies are elevating their commitment to talent, with the growing realization that meeting the changing needs and requirements of talent is essential to remain competitive. The ways in which people view, find and conduct work are undergoing fundamental shifts. And as the demand for skilled talent continues to climb, workers’ changing ideas about the integration of work into life are becoming more important. 2021 saw record-breaking employee resignations in the U.S. as workers opted out of jobs that did not align with their needs. In this increasingly talent-driven market, a diverse set of workers, empowered by technology, is seeking to take even greater control over their career trajectories. Kelly is proud to be a career partner of choice for workers in search of a better way to work.

Our Business

Kelly is a talent and global workforce solutions company serving customers of all sizes in a variety of industries. We offer innovative outsourcing and consulting services, as well as staffing on a temporary and direct-hire basis. In 2020, we adopted a new operating model and realigned our business into five specialty business units, which are also our reportable segments.

•Professional & Industrial – delivers staffing, outcome-based and direct-hire services focused on office, professional, light industrial and contact center specialties in the U.S. and Canada, including our KellyConnect and Skilled Professional Solutions products

•Science, Engineering & Technology – delivers staffing, outcome-based and direct-hire services focused on science and clinical research, engineering, technology and telecommunications specialties predominantly in the U.S. and Canada and includes our NextGen and Global Technology Associates subsidiaries, as well as Softworld, a technology staffing and workforce solutions company acquired in 2021

•Education – delivers staffing, direct-hire and executive search services across the full education spectrum from early childhood to higher education in the U.S., and includes Teachers On Call, Insight Workforce Solutions and Greenwood/Asher & Associates

•Outsourcing & Consulting – delivers Master Service Provider ("MSP"), Recruitment Process Outsourcing ("RPO"), Business Process Outsourcing ("BPO") and Talent Advisory Services to customers on a global basis

•International – delivers staffing, RPO and direct-hire services in 15 countries in Europe, as well as services in Mexico delivered in accordance with recent changes in labor market regulations

In addition, PersolKelly Pte. Ltd., our joint venture with Persol Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Persol Holdings, a leading provider of HR solutions in Japan, provides staffing and direct hire services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

We earn revenues from customers that procure the services of our temporary employees on a time and materials basis, that use us to recruit permanent employees, and that rely on our talent advisory and outsourcing services. Our working capital requirements are primarily generated from temporary employee payroll and customer accounts receivable. The nature of our business is such that trade accounts receivable are our most significant asset. Average days sales outstanding varies within and outside the U.S. and was 60 days on a global basis as of the end of 2021 and 64 days as of the end of 2020. Since receipts from customers generally lag temporary employee payroll, working capital requirements increase substantially in periods of growth and decline in periods of economic contraction.

Our Perspective and Outlook on Growth

Our 2020 results reflected the substantial decline in demand for our services during the depth of the COVID-19 crisis and the decisive actions we took to reduce costs and protect our balance sheet. We were successful in positioning Kelly to take advantage of improving economic conditions and the beginning of a recovery in customer demand as we entered 2021. While 2021 had its share of headwinds, most notably the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants, continued global supply chain shortages, and a talent supply shortage, Kelly persevered and ended the year better than we began it. We made our largest-ever acquisition in April 2021 with the purchase of Softworld, a leader in the fast-growing technology staffing and solutions space. We made structural improvements in our businesses, driving growth in our GP rate; and we reinstated a dividend, which had been temporarily suspended during the worst of the pandemic. Within our specialty solutions, customer demand for our services increased throughout 2021, reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels at various rates across specialties. Our P&I and Education segments, the hardest-hit by COVID-19 and its variants, put the worst of the pandemic behind them by year’s end. Our SET business drove double-digit growth in outcome-based business and Softworld. Our International segment continued its recovery, led by growth in key European countries. And OCG, the most resilient of our business segments, continued to deliver double-digit growth throughout 2021.

We enter 2022 having shifted from recovery to growth. Our permanent placement fee growth points toward our customers’ investments in their future workforce, and increased demand in our staffing and outcome-based businesses reflects strong market demand for the specialty solutions we provide. Our business is arranged around specialties that target these areas of strong demand, promising growth opportunities, and Kelly’s proven ability to win. Our segments also reflect our intent to shift our portfolio toward high-margin, higher-value specialties that deliver a competitive edge and increased shareholder value.

As we continue our strategic growth journey in the year ahead, we will also invest in key value drivers.

•We are mapping our digital transformation journey, building a technology foundation to optimize our business, personalize the talent journey and improve the client experience. For example, in 2021 we launched Helix UX, an industry-leading talent management tool that is enabling our customers to better manage their global workforce across temporary, full-time and cloud-based talent pools.

•We are consistently striving to better understand and support our talent and their shifting needs. We have reallocated resources to be solely focused on the temporary worker experience, and our Equity@Work initiative is designed to break down long-standing, systemic barriers that make it difficult for many people to participate in the labor market.

•We are investing in the talent experience of our full-time employees, taking action to ensure we have the people coaches and performance management systems that will help our employees thrive in their Kelly careers. We know that our success is powered by our people, and we are aiming for industry-leading results.

As we execute our specialty growth strategy, we are focused on both the speed and scope of change. To that end, on February 14, 2022 we announced transactions that will allow us to strategically re-deploy resources to accelerate our growth in high-margin, high-growth specialties. Specifically, we are unwinding our cross-ownership with Persol Holdings and reducing our ownership interest in our APAC joint venture, PersolKelly. Monetizing our investments in Persol Holdings and PersolKelly provides us with additional capital, when combined with our available borrowing capacity, that results in approximately $500 million of capital available to invest in our specialty growth strategy and positions us to continue to grow both organically and inorganically in 2022 and beyond.

Financial Measures

The constant currency (“CC”) change amounts in the following tables refer to the year-over-year percentage changes resulting from translating 2021 financial data into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates used to translate financial data for 2020. We believe that CC measurements are a useful measure, indicating the actual trends of our operations without distortion due to currency fluctuations. We use CC results when analyzing the performance of our segments and measuring our results against those of our competitors. Additionally, substantially all of our foreign subsidiaries derive revenues and incur cost of services and selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses within a single country and currency which, as a result, provides a natural hedge against currency risks in connection with their normal business operations.

CC measures are non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures and are used to supplement measures in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP measures may be calculated differently from those provided by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Reported and CC percentage changes were computed based on actual amounts in thousands of dollars.

Return on sales (earnings from operations divided by revenue from services) and conversion rate (earnings from operations divided by gross profit) are ratios used to measure the Company’s operating efficiency.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and EBITDA margin (EBITDA divided by revenue

from services) are measures used for understanding the Company's ability to generate cash flow and for judging overall

operating performance.

NM (not meaningful) in the following tables is used in place of percentage changes where: the change is in excess of 500%, the change involves a comparison between earnings and loss amounts, or the comparison amount is zero.

Days sales outstanding (“DSO”) represents the number of days that sales remain unpaid for the period being reported. DSO is calculated by dividing average net sales per day (based on a rolling three-month period) into trade accounts receivable, net of allowances at the period end. Although secondary supplier revenues are recorded on a net basis (net of secondary supplier expense), secondary supplier revenue is included in the daily sales calculation in order to properly reflect the gross revenue amounts billed to the customer.

Results of Operations

Total Company

(Dollars in millions)

Goodwill impairment charge — 147.7 NM 147.7 — NM

Asset impairment charge — — NM — 15.8 NM

Earnings (loss) from operations 48.6 (93.6) NM (93.6) 81.8 NM

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings 121.8 (16.6) NM (16.6) 35.8 NM

Gain on insurance settlement 19.0 — NM — — NM

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliate 5.4 0.8 NM 0.8 (3.6) NM

2021 vs. 2020

Revenue from services for 2021 increased 8.7% on a reported basis and 7.8% on a constant currency basis as demand for our services increased from COVID-crisis driven levels in 2020. Revenue increased in all operating segments, with the exception of Professional & Industrial. Our acquisition of Softworld, a technology staffing and solutions firm, in early April 2021 added approximately 220 basis points to the revenue growth rate. The 2020 fiscal year included a 53rd week. This fiscal leap year occurs every five or six years and is necessary to align the fiscal and calendar periods. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue. Compared to 2020, revenue from staffing services increased 6.6%, revenue from outcome-based services increased 7.3%, and permanent placement income increased 89.7%.

Gross profit increased 11.1% on higher revenue volume and an improving gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 40 basis points in comparison to 2020, primarily due to the impact of higher permanent placement income and the acquisition of Softworld, which generates higher gross profit rates, partially offset by unfavorable product mix and higher employee-related costs. Gross profit rate improved approximately 30 basis points as a result of the acquisition of Softworld. The gross profit rate for 2020 includes approximately 20 basis points from COVID-related government wage subsidies. Increases in the gross profit rate for Science, Engineering & Technology, Education and International were partially offset by decreases in the gross profit rate for Professional & Industrial and Outsourcing & Consulting.

Total SG&A expenses increased 8.1% compared to 2020. SG&A expenses related to Softworld, including amortization of intangibles and other operating expenses, accounted for approximately 350 basis points to the year-over-year increase. The increase in SG&A expenses also reflects increases in performance-based incentive compensation expenses and the impact of

temporary expense mitigation efforts in 2020. With the exception of Professional & Industrial, SG&A expenses increased in all segments in comparison to 2020.

Included in SG&A expenses for 2021 was $4.0 million of restructuring charges, primarily reflecting cost management actions taken in the fourth quarter of 2021 to increase operational efficiencies within enterprise functions that provide centralized support to operating units. Included in SG&A expenses for 2020 was $12.8 million of restructuring charges and a $9.5 million charge related to a customer dispute.

During 2020, the negative reaction to the pandemic by the global equity markets also resulted in a decline in the Company's common stock price. This triggered an interim goodwill impairment test, resulting in a $147.7 million goodwill impairment charge in the first quarter of 2020.

Gain on sale of assets of $32.1 million in 2020 represents the excess of the proceeds over the cost of the headquarters properties sold in the first quarter of 2020. The main headquarters building was subsequently leased back by the Company during the first quarter of 2020.

Earnings from operations for 2021 totaled $48.6 million, compared to a loss from operations of $93.6 million in 2020. The increase in earnings from operations from 2020 primarily reflects the impact of the goodwill impairment charge, the customer dispute charge and higher restructuring charges in 2020, partially offset by the 2020 gain on sale of assets.

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings represents the noncash gain or loss resulting from changes in the market price of our investment in the common stock of Persol Holdings. The gains or losses fluctuate each quarter based on the quoted market price of the Persol Holdings common stock at period end.

The gain on insurance settlement of $19.0 million in 2021 represents a payment received in the fourth quarter of 2021 related to the settlement of claims under a representations and warranties insurance policy purchased by the Company in connection with the acquisition of Softworld.

Other expense for 2021 totaled $3.6 million, compared to other income of $3.4 million for 2020. Included in the 2021 amount is a one-time, non-cash write-down of an equity investment and transaction-related expenses from the April 2021 acquisition of Softworld.

Income tax expense was $35.1 million for 2021 and income tax benefit was $34.0 million for 2020. The 2021 income tax expense was impacted by higher pretax earnings and changes in the fair value of the Company's investment in Persol Holdings. Income taxes for 2021 also includes a charge for gain on insurance settlement and a benefit from a United Kingdom tax rate change. Income taxes for 2020 includes a tax benefit from the impairment of goodwill and a U.S. tax benefit from the sale of Brazil operations.

Our tax expense is affected by recurring items, such as the amount of pretax income and its mix by jurisdiction, U.S. work opportunity credits and the change in cash surrender value of tax exempt investments in life insurance policies. It is also affected by discrete items that may occur in any given period but are not consistent from period to period, such as tax law changes, changes in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets, the tax effects of stock compensation, and changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings, which are treated as discrete since they cannot be estimated. The United Kingdom rate change benefit in the second quarter of 2021, the first quarter of 2020 impairment of goodwill and the second quarter of 2020 Brazil outside basis differences were treated as discrete.

The net earnings for 2021 were $156.1 million, compared to a net loss of $72.0 million for 2020. This change was due primarily to higher earnings from operations and increased gains of Persol Holdings common stock, net of tax.

2020 vs. 2019

Revenue from services for 2020 declined in all segments, reflecting the impact of COVID-19, and resulting in a decline in demand for both our staffing and permanent placement services across a broad range of industries and geographies. Revenue from staffing services declined 20% compared to 2019. Permanent placement revenue, which is included in revenue from services, decreased 34% year-over-year as the impact of economic uncertainty depressed full-time hiring in all operating segments. These declines were partially offset by a 9% increase in outcome-based services as demand from customers utilizing these services increased during the year. The 2020 fiscal year included a 53rd week. This fiscal leap year occurs every five or six years and is necessary to align the fiscal and calendar periods. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported and CC revenue.

Gross profit declined as a result of lower revenue volume, partially offset by an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 20 basis points in comparison to 2019. With the exception of Education and International, the gross profit rate increased in all other operating segments, primarily reflecting improved product mix and lower employee-related costs. The gross profit rate for Education declined primarily as a result of increased pricing pressures. International's gross profit rate was negatively impacted by the decrease in permanent placement revenue. The total Company 2020 gross profit rate included approximately 20 basis points related to COVID-19 government subsidies.

Total SG&A expenses decreased 8.8% in comparison to 2019. This decrease was due primarily to lower administrative salaries and performance-based compensation, including short-term cost reductions implemented to further align costs with revenue volume trends. Included in total SG&A expenses are restructuring charges of $12.8 million in 2020. Actions were taken in the first quarter of 2020 to position the Company to adopt the new operating model and to align the U.S. branch network facilities footprint with a more technology-enabled service delivery methodology. Actions were taken in the fourth quarter of 2020 to align costs with expected revenue levels. Restructuring charges of $5.5 million in 2019 represent severance costs primarily related to position eliminations within Professional & Industrial staffing operations.

Gain on sale of assets of $32.1 million represented the excess of the proceeds over the cost of the headquarters properties sold in the first quarter of 2020. The main headquarters building was subsequently leased back to the Company during the first quarter of 2020. Gain on sale of assets in 2019 of $12.3 million primarily represented the excess of the proceeds over the cost upon the sale of an unused parcel of land located near the Company headquarters. Asset impairment charge of $15.8 million in 2019 represented the write-off of previously capitalized costs associated with a new U.S. front and middle office technology development project which management determined would not be completed but replaced by an enhanced and expanded use of an existing technology platform.

The loss from operations for 2020 of $93.6 million reflected a decline from the $81.8 million of earnings from operations in 2019. Earnings from operations declined as a result of the goodwill impairment charge and lower gross profit as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on demand, partially offset by lower expenses due to cost reduction efforts and higher gain on sale of assets.

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings represented the noncash gain or loss resulting from changes in the market price of our investment in the common stock of Persol Holdings. The gains or losses fluctuate based on the quoted market price of the Persol Holdings common stock at period end.

Income tax benefit was $34.0 million and expense was $0.4 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The 2020 income tax benefited from lower pretax earnings and included the impairment of goodwill, a decline in the fair value of the Company's investment in Persol Holdings, and a tax loss on the sale of our Brazil operations. These benefits were offset by lower work opportunity credits. The 2019 tax expense benefited from releasing a valuation allowance in the United Kingdom. The work opportunity credit has been extended through 2025 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

Our tax expense is affected by recurring items, such as the amount of pretax income and its mix by jurisdiction, U.S. work opportunity credits and the change in cash surrender value of tax exempt investments in life insurance policies. It is also affected by discrete items that may occur in any given period but are not consistent from period to period, such as tax law changes, changes in judgment regarding the realizability of deferred tax assets, the tax effects of stock compensation, and changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings, which are treated as discrete since they cannot be estimated. The impairment of goodwill in the first quarter of 2020 and the recording of deferred taxes on the Brazil outside basis differences in the second quarter of 2020 were treated as discrete items.

The net loss for 2020 of $72.0 million, a decrease from net earnings of $112.4 million in 2019, was due primarily to lower earnings from operations due to the goodwill impairment charge taken in the first quarter of 2020, combined with losses of Persol Holdings common stock, partially offset by the impact of an income tax benefit in comparison to income tax expense in 2019.

Operating Results By Segment

(Dollars in millions)

Revenue From Services:

2021 vs. 2020

Professional & Industrial revenue from services decreased 1.1% due primarily to lower demand from our outcome-based call center specialty. Revenue from staffing services also declined on lower hours volume due to talent supply constraints even as customer demand improved. Lower hours volume in staffing services was partially offset by higher average bills rates. These decreases were partially offset by increased outcome-based revenue in other specialties, as well as higher permanent placement income which is included in revenue from services. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Professional & Industrial.

Science, Engineering & Technology revenue from services increased 13.5% on a reported basis, which includes revenues from the acquisition of Softworld. On an organic basis, revenue growth was 3.9%, which was driven by hours increases in our staffing business across most specialties, coupled with an increase in outcome-based revenue and permanent placement income. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Science, Engineering & Technology.

Education revenue from services increased 45.2% reflecting the return to in-school instruction by many schools, resulting in increased demand for our services as compared to a year ago. In 2020, many districts were using virtual or hybrid instruction methods due to the impact of COVID-19. The 53rd week added less than 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Education.

Outsourcing & Consulting revenue from services increased 18.9% due primarily to increased hours revenue volume in our PPO specialty, coupled with revenue growth in both RPO and MSP products. The 53rd week added approximately 2% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Outsourcing & Consulting.

International revenue from services increased 8.0% on a reported basis and increased 4.9% on a CC basis. Year-over-year revenue comparisons were unfavorably impacted by the sale of our staffing operations in Brazil in August 2020. Excluding Brazil, revenue increased 9.9% on a reported basis and 6.8% on a constant currency basis. The increase was primarily due to higher hours volume, particularly in Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and France. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in International.

2020 vs. 2019

Professional & Industrial revenue from services decreased due primarily to decreases in our hours volume in our staffing product which was impacted by COVID-19. These decreases were partially offset by increased revenue in our outcome-based products due to program expansions. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Professional & Industrial.

Science, Engineering & Technology revenue from services decreased due to lower hours volume in our staffing product across most specialties due to the continued impact of COVID-19, with the exception of our government staffing business, which has seen increased demand for life sciences support. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Science, Engineering & Technology.

Education revenue from services decreased due to the impact of COVID-19. Temporary school closures and use of virtual or hybrid instructional delivery reduced the demand. These decreases were partially offset by the revenues from the first quarter 2020 acquisition of Insight. The 53rd week added less than 1% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Education.

Outsourcing & Consulting revenue from services decreased due primarily to decreases in our PPO, MSP and RPO products due in part to COVID-19 demand declines, as well as lower demand from customers in the oil and gas industry. The 53rd week added approximately 2% to 2020 reported revenue from services in Outsourcing & Consulting.

International revenue from services decreased 16.4% on a reported basis and 15.6% on a CC basis. The decline was primarily due to a decrease in hours volume as COVID-19 disruptions continued across operations in all countries, in particular France, Portugal and the U.K. These decreases were partially offset by increased revenue in Russia, due to higher average bill rates. The 53rd week added approximately 1% to 2020 reported and CC revenue from services in International.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Gross Profit:

Gross Profit Rate:

2021 vs. 2020

Gross profit for the Professional & Industrial segment decreased due to a decrease in the gross profit rate, combined with lower revenue volume. In comparison to the prior year, the gross profit rate decreased 90 basis points. This decrease reflects the unfavorable year-over-year impact of government wage subsidies, increased costs associated with our outcome-based call center specialties, higher employee-related costs in the staffing product and a shift in product mix compared to the prior year as demand for staffing services, which generally carry lower margins, increased. These decreases were partially offset by the impact of increased permanent placement income in 2021.

The Science, Engineering & Technology gross profit increased on higher revenue volume and an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 140 basis points due to increased permanent placement income and improved specialty mix, including the acquisition of Softworld in April 2021, partially offset by higher employee-related costs.

Gross profit for the Education segment increased on higher revenue volume and an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 90 basis points due primarily to higher permanent placement income from Greenwood/Asher, our acquisition in late 2020. This increase was partially offset by the unfavorable year-over-year impact of government wage subsidies.

The Outsourcing & Consulting gross profit increased on higher revenue volume, partially offset by a decrease in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate decreased 30 basis points primarily due to a change in product mix within this segment, as revenues increased in our PPO product, which generates lower profit margins.

International gross profit increased on higher revenue volume and an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 120 basis points primarily due to customer mix.

2020 vs. 2019

Gross profit for the Professional & Industrial segment declined as the result of lower revenue volume, partially offset by an improved gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 30 basis points due to lower employee-related costs coupled with improved product mix, as a greater proportion of the segment revenue came from outcome-based services with higher margins.

The Science, Engineering & Technology gross profit declined as lower revenue volume was partially offset by a higher gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 50 basis points due to lower employee-related costs, partially offset by specialty and customer mix.

Gross profit for the Education segment declined as a result of lower revenue volume, combined with a lower gross profit rate. The Education gross profit rate decreased 130 basis points due to increased pricing pressures, partially offset by lower employee-related costs.

Outsourcing & Consulting gross profit declined on lower revenue volume, partially offset by an improved gross profit rate. The Outsourcing & Consulting gross profit rate increased 60 basis points due to improved customer mix in the RPO product, coupled with lower employee-related costs in the PPO product.

International gross profit declined as a result of lower revenue volume and a decline in the gross profit rate. The International gross profit rate decreased primarily due to lower permanent placement revenue.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

SG&A Expenses:

Restructuring Charges Included in SG&A Expenses:

Professional & Industrial $ — $ 6.0 NM % $ 6.0 $ 5.1 16.8 %

Science, Engineering & Technology — 0.6 NM 0.6 0.4 74.1

Education — 1.0 NM 1.0 — NM

Outsourcing & Consulting — 0.3 NM 0.3 — NM

2021 vs. 2020

Total SG&A expenses in Professional & Industrial decreased 3.5% and decreased 1.4% excluding restructuring charges. Expenses are lower as a result of cost reductions in response to lower revenue volumes, partially offset by higher performance-based compensation expenses.

Total SG&A expenses in Science, Engineering & Technology increased 34.1%, or 34.7% excluding restructuring charges. Excluding restructuring charges and the acquisition of Softworld, SG&A expenses increased 13.9%. Year-over-year comparisons of salaries and related costs were impacted by temporary expense mitigation actions taken in response to the COVID-19 disruption in 2020. These increases were combined with higher headcount in sales and recruiting talent, and an increase in performance-based incentive compensation.

Total SG&A expenses in Education increased 21.1%, or 23.6% excluding restructuring charges, primarily due to higher salary and incentives expense related to improving revenues. In addition, year-over-year comparisons of salaries and related costs were impacted by temporary expense mitigation actions taken in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 disruption. Expenses in 2021 include a charge to adjust the contingent consideration due to the former owners of Greenwood/Asher as a result of better than anticipated performance.

Total SG&A expenses in Outsourcing & Consulting increased 13.3% in comparison to the prior year. Year-over-year comparisons of salaries and related costs were impacted by temporary expense actions taken in 2020 in response to the impact of the COVID-19 disruption. These increases were combined with an increase in salaries and performance-based incentive compensation reflecting improving revenue.

Total SG&A expenses in International increased 2.9% on a reported basis and increased 0.1% on a constant currency basis. Total SG&A expenses in 2021 and 2020 include restructuring charges, and the prior year also included a charge related to a customer dispute in Mexico and SG&A expenses related to our staffing operations in Brazil, which were sold in August 2020. Excluding these items, SG&A expenses increased 13.6% on a reported basis and 10.4% on a constant currency basis. This increase was primarily due to higher performance-based compensation and higher salary-related expenses driven by an increase in headcount, reflecting improving revenue in Europe.

Corporate expenses decreased $0.1 million from 2020. Lower disability, non-restructuring severance and restructuring costs were partially offset by higher performance-based compensation expense.

2020 vs. 2019

Total SG&A expenses in Professional & Industrial decreased due primarily to lower salaries and related costs due to cost management actions and initiatives taken to help mitigate the lower revenue volume as a result of the COVID-19 disruption. The decreased revenue volume also resulted in lower performance-based compensation. In addition, Professional & Industrial took restructuring actions in both 2020 and 2019, which reduced salaries and related costs and facilities expenses. Included in total SG&A expenses for 2020 and 2019 are the costs of those restructuring efforts of $6.0 million and $5.1 million, respectively, representing primarily employee severance costs.

Total SG&A expenses in Science, Engineering & Technology decreased due primarily to cost management actions and initiatives taken to help mitigate the lower revenue volume as a result of the COVID-19 disruption. The decreased revenue volume also resulted in lower performance-based compensation.

Total SG&A expenses in Education decreased due primarily to lower salaries and related costs resulting from the cost management actions and initiatives taken to help mitigate the lower revenue volume as a result of the COVID-19 disruption. The decreased revenue volume also resulted in lower performance-based compensation. These decreases were partially offset by the impact of the acquisition of Insight that took place in the first quarter of 2020.

Total SG&A expenses in Outsourcing & Consulting decreased due primarily to lower salaries and related expenses resulting from cost management actions and initiatives taken to help mitigate the lower revenue volume as a result of the COVID-19 disruption.

Total SG&A expenses in International decreased 4.2% on a reported basis and 3.6% on a CC basis. Included in International SG&A expenses for 2020 is a $9.5 million non-cash charge related to a customer dispute in Mexico that resulted in an additional uncollectible accounts receivable charge. Excluding this charge, total SG&A expenses decreased 11.0% due primarily to lower salaries, driven by cost management to contend with the COVID-19 disruption, combined with lower incentive-based compensation.

Corporate expenses decreased as a result of lower performance-based compensation expense and lower professional fees, partially offset by restructuring charges incurred during 2020.

Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Earnings (Loss) from Operations:

2021 vs. 2020

Professional & Industrial reported earnings of $31.4 million, a 24.4% decrease from 2020.The decrease in earnings was primarily due to increased costs of services reducing our gross profit rate in our outcome-based product lines and the year-over-year impact of the government wage subsidies we received in 2020.These were partially offset by an increase in our permanent placement income.

Science, Engineering & Technology reported earnings of $73.7 million, a 1.7% decrease from 2020.The decrease in earnings was primarily due to higher expenses related to performance-based incentive compensation and higher salaries. The increase in higher salaries was related to an investment in additional sales and recruiting resources, which exceeded revenue and gross margin growth.This was partially offset by earnings from Softworld, which was acquired in April 2021.

Education reported earnings of $3.0 million, compared to a loss of $9.0 million from 2020.The change was primarily due to an increase in revenue, reflecting the return to in-school instruction by many schools, resulting in increased demand for our services as compared to 2020.In 2020, many districts were using virtual or hybrid instruction methods due to the impact of COVID-19.Partially offsetting this improvement is a charge to adjust the contingent consideration due to the former owners of Greenwood/Asher.

Outsourcing & Consulting reported earnings of $18.7 million, a 62.7% increase compared to 2020.The increase in earnings was primarily due to the impact of increased revenue volumes within the segment.

International reported earnings of $9.9 million, compared to a loss of $8.9 million in 2020. The increase in earnings was primarily due to the favorable comparison related to the charge for a customer dispute in Mexico and restructuring charges in 2020, combined with improving revenue in Europe.

Corporate loss from operations was $88.1 million in 2021, compared to a loss of $203.8 million in 2020. The 2020 loss includes the goodwill impairment charge of $147.7 million, partially offset by a gain on sale of assets of $32.1 million.

2020 vs. 2019

Professional & Industrial reported earnings of $41.6 million, a 33.4% decrease from 2019. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on our staffing product, partially offset by increases in our outcome-based products and the cost management initiatives taken to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our operations.

Science, Engineering & Technology reported earnings of $75.0 million, a 5.8% decrease from 2019. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on demand for our services, partially offset by the cost management initiatives taken to mitigate its impact.

Education reported a loss of $9.0 million, compared to earnings of $15.8 million in 2019. The decrease is due to the impact of COVID-19 on our revenue, partially offset by the cost management initiatives taken to mitigate its impact.

Outsourcing & Consulting reported earnings of $11.5 million, an $8.5 million increase over 2019. The increase in earnings was primarily due to the impact of the cost management initiatives taken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, partially offset by lower revenue volume due to the impact of COVID-19 and lower customer demand in the oil and gas industry.

International reported a loss of $8.9 million, compared to earnings of $18.7 million in 2019, largely driven by the impact of COVID-19 on revenue and a charge related to a customer dispute in Mexico, partially offset by cost management initiatives.

Corporate loss from operations of $203.8 million for 2020 includes the goodwill impairment charge of $147.7 million and gain on sale of assets of $32.1 million.

Results of Operations

Financial Condition

Historically, we have financed our operations through cash generated by operating activities and access to credit markets. Our working capital requirements are primarily generated from temporary employee payroll, which is generally paid weekly or monthly, and customer accounts receivable, which is generally outstanding for longer periods. Since receipts from customers lag payroll paid to temporary employees, working capital requirements increase substantially in periods of growth. Conversely, when economic activity slows, working capital requirements may substantially decrease. This may result in an increase in our operating cash flows; however, any such increase would not be sustainable in the event that an economic downturn continued for an extended period. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on our business began in March 2020. While we have yet to return to pre-crisis revenue levels, we have experienced improving demand for our services and expect a sustained recovery throughout 2022.

As highlighted in the consolidated statements of cash flows, our liquidity and available capital resources are impacted by four key components: cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, operating activities, investing activities and financing activities.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $119.5 million at year-end 2021, compared to $228.1 million at year-end 2020. As further described below, during 2021, we generated $85.0 million of cash from operating activities, used $180.7 million of cash for investing activities and used $8.1 million of cash for financing activities.

Operating Activities

In 2021, we generated $85.0 million of net cash from operating activities, as compared to generating $186.0 million in 2020 and generating $102.2 million in 2019. Net cash from operating activities in 2020 benefited from a deferral of $117.0 million of U.S. federal payroll taxes. Net cash from operating activities in 2021 included $29.7 million of cash outflows related to the repayment of the payroll tax deferral. The change from 2020 to 2021 was primarily due to the impact of changes in the payroll tax deferral, partially offset by the favorable impact of improving global DSO. The change from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to the deferral of payroll tax payments, partially offset by the impact of higher global DSO.

Trade accounts receivable totaled $1.4 billion at year-end 2021 and $1.3 billion at year-end 2020. Global DSO for the fourth quarter was 60 days for 2021, compared to 64 days for 2020. DSO at year-end 2020 reflected the impact of customer-driven administrative issues among a limited number of large customers which were resolved in early 2021.

Our working capital position (total current assets less total current liabilities) was $493.5 million at year-end 2021, a decrease of $130.5 million from year-end 2020. Excluding the decrease in cash, working capital decreased $20.2 million from year-end 2020. The current ratio (total current assets divided by total current liabilities) was 1.5 at year-end 2021 and 1.7 at year-end 2020.

Investing Activities

In 2021, we used $180.7 million of net cash for investing activities, compared to generating $9.8 million in 2020 and using $94.3 million in 2019. Included in cash used for investing activities in 2021 is $213.0 million of cash used for the acquisition of Softworld in April 2021, net of cash received and including working capital adjustments. This was partially offset by $19.0 million of proceeds from an insurance settlement that represented a payment received in the fourth quarter of 2021 related to the settlement of claims under a representations and warranties insurance policy purchased by the Company in connection with the acquisition of Softworld.

Included in cash generated from investing activities in 2020 is $55.5 million of proceeds representing the cash received, net of transaction expenses, for the sale of three headquarters properties as a part of a sale and leaseback transaction and $5.6 million received from a payment on the loans to PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. This was partially offset by cash used for the acquisitions of Insight in January 2020 and Greenwood/Asher in November 2020. Cash used for the acquisition of Insight totaled $36.4 million, net of the cash received and including working capital adjustments. Cash used for the acquisition of Greenwood/Asher totaled $2.8 million, net of the cash received and including working capital adjustments.

Included in cash used for investing activities in 2019 is $50.8 million for the acquisition of NextGen in January 2019, net of cash received, $35.6 million for the acquisition of GTA in January 2019, net of cash received, and $4.4 million for loans to

PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. to fund working capital requirements. These uses of cash were partially offset by proceeds of $13.8 million primarily from the sale of unused land during the second quarter of 2019.

Capital expenditures totaled $11.2 million in 2021, $15.5 million in 2020 and $20.0 million in 2019. Capital expenditures in 2021 primarily related to the Company's IT infrastructure, technology programs and headquarters building improvements. Capital expenditures in 2020 primarily related to the Company's headquarters leasehold improvements, IT infrastructure and technology programs. Capital expenditures in 2019 primarily related to the Company’s technology programs.

Financing Activities

In both 2021 and 2020, we used $8.1 million of cash for financing activities, as compared to using $16.1 million in 2019. Changes in net cash from 2019 financing activities were primarily related to dividend payments. Dividends paid per common share were $0.10 in 2021, $0.075 in 2020 and $0.30 in 2019. Payments of dividends are restricted by the financial covenants contained in our debt facilities. Details of this restriction are contained in the Debt footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Changes in net cash from financing activities are also impacted by short-term borrowing activities. There was no debt at year-end 2021 and debt was $0.3 million at year-end 2020. Debt-to-total capital (total debt reported in the consolidated balance sheet divided by total debt plus stockholders’ equity) is a common ratio to measure the relative capital structure and leverage of the Company. Our ratio of debt-to-total capital was 0.0% at year-end 2021 and 2020.

In 2021, 2020 and 2019 the net change in short-term borrowings was primarily due to payments on local lines of credit.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Summarized below are our obligations and commitments to make future payments as of year-end 2021:

Payment due by period

Total Less than1 year 1-3 Years 3-5 Years More than5 years

(In millions of dollars)

Short-term borrowings — — — — —

Uncertain income tax positions 0.8 0.2 0.5 — 0.1

Purchase obligations above represent unconditional commitments relating primarily to technology services and online tools which we expect to utilize generally within the next three fiscal years, in the ordinary course of business. We have no material, unrecorded commitments, losses, contingencies or guarantees associated with any related parties or unconsolidated entities.

Liquidity

We expect to meet our ongoing short-term and long-term cash requirements principally through cash generated from operations, available cash and equivalents, securitization of customer receivables and committed unused credit facilities. Additional funding sources could include asset-based lending, additional bank facilities or sale of non-core assets. To meet significant cash requirements related to our nonqualified retirement plan, we may utilize proceeds from Company-owned life insurance policies. During 2020, cash generated from operations was supplemented by the deferral of payments of the Company's U.S. social security taxes as allowed by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Such remaining deferrals are required to be repaid by January 3, 2023.

We utilize intercompany loans, dividends, capital contributions and redemptions to effectively manage our cash on a global basis. We periodically review our foreign subsidiaries’ cash balances and projected cash needs. As part of those reviews, we may identify cash that we feel should be repatriated to optimize the Company’s overall capital structure. As of the 2021 year end, these reviews have not resulted in plans to repatriate foreign subsidiary cash. We expect much of our international cash will be needed to fund working capital growth in our local operations as working capital needs, primarily trade accounts receivable, increase during periods of growth. A cash pooling arrangement (the “Cash Pool”) is available to fund general corporate needs internationally. The Cash Pool is a set of cash accounts maintained with a single bank that must, as a whole, maintain at least a zero balance; individual accounts may be positive or negative. This allows countries with excess cash to invest and countries with cash needs to utilize the excess cash.

At year-end 2021, we had $200.0 million of available capacity on our $200.0 million revolving credit facility and $97.0 million of available capacity on our $150.0 million securitization facility. The securitization facility carried no short-term borrowings and $53.0 million of standby letters of credit related to workers’ compensation. Together, the revolving credit and securitization facilities provide the Company with committed funding capacity that may be used for general corporate purposes subject to financial covenants and restrictions. While we believe these facilities will cover our working capital needs over the short term, if economic conditions or operating results change significantly from our current expectations, we may need to seek additional sources of funds. Throughout 2021 and as of the 2021 year end, we met the debt covenants related to our revolving credit facility and securitization facility.

At year-end 2021, we also had additional unsecured, uncommitted short-term credit facilities totaling $8.1 million, under which we had no borrowings. Details of our debt facilities as of the 2021 year end are contained in the Debt footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

We have historically managed our cash and debt very closely to optimize our capital structure. As our cash balances build, we tend to pay down debt as appropriate. Conversely, when working capital needs grow, we tend to use corporate cash and cash available in the Cash Pool first, and then access our borrowing facilities. We expect our working capital requirements to increase over the next several quarters if demand for our services continues to increase and to pay the deferred payroll tax balances, of which $29.5 million was paid on January 3, 2022 and another $57.6 million is due on January 3, 2023.

In February 2022, we entered into transactions to monetize a portion of our assets in the Asia-Pacific region which will allow us to strategically redeploy resources to accelerate our growth. Specifically, we are unwinding our cross-shareholding arrangement with Persol Holdings and reducing our ownership interest in PersolKelly, our APAC joint venture. We sold our investment in Persol Holdings common stock in an open market transaction. We repurchased the 1.6 million Kelly Class A and 1,475 Kelly Class B common shares owned by Persol Holdings at a price based on the last five trading days prior to the transaction. We will sell almost all of our ownership interest in PersolKelly to our joint venture partner. The transactions will be complete in the first quarter of 2022.

We monitor the credit ratings of our major banking partners on a regular basis and have regular discussions with them. Based on our reviews and communications, we believe the risk of one or more of our banks not being able to honor commitments is insignificant. We also review the ratings and holdings of our money market funds and other investment vehicles regularly to ensure high credit quality and access to our invested cash.

Critical Accounting Estimates

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In this process, it is necessary for us to make certain assumptions and related estimates affecting the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the attached notes. Actual results can differ from assumed and estimated amounts.

Critical accounting estimates are those that we believe require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those estimates may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following estimates to be most critical in understanding the judgments involved in preparing our consolidated financial statements.

Workers’ Compensation

In the U.S., we have a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which we effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. There is no aggregate limitation on our per-accident exposure under these insurance and self-insurance programs. We establish accruals for workers’ compensation utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. We retain an independent consulting actuary to establish ultimate loss forecasts for the current and prior accident years of our insurance and self-insurance programs. The consulting actuary establishes loss development factors, based on our historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of our ultimate claims liability. In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary may consider factors such as the nature, frequency and severity of the claims; reserving practices of our third party claims administrators; performance of our medical cost management and return to work programs; changes in our territory and business line mix; and current legal, economic and regulatory factors such as industry estimates of medical cost trends. Where appropriate, multiple generally accepted actuarial techniques are applied and tested in the course of preparing the loss forecast. We use the ultimate loss forecasts, as developed by the consulting actuary, to establish total expected program costs for each accident year by adding our estimates of non-loss costs such as claims handling fees and excess insurance premiums. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, we record a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount.

We evaluate the accrual quarterly and make adjustments as needed. The ultimate cost of these claims may be greater than or less than the established accrual. While we believe that the recorded amounts are reasonable, there can be no assurance that changes to our estimates will not occur due to limitations inherent in the estimation process. In the event we determine that a smaller or larger accrual is appropriate, we would record a credit or a charge to cost of services in the period in which we made such a determination. The accrual for workers’ compensation, net of related receivables which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet, was $48.4 million and $54.6 million at year-end 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Business Combinations

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, in which the purchase price is allocated for assets acquired and liabilities assumed and recorded at the estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Management is required to make significant assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of the assets acquired, particularly intangible assets. Purchased intangible assets are primarily comprised of acquired trade names and customer relationships that are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. We utilize third-party valuation specialists to assist us in the determination of the fair value of the intangibles. The fair value of trade name intangibles is determined using the relief-from-royalty method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. The fair value of customer relationship intangibles is determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, profit margins and discount rates. Determining the useful lives of intangible assets also requires judgment and are inherently uncertain. There is a measurement period of up to one year in which to finalize the fair value determinations and preliminary fair value estimates may be revised if new information is obtained during this period.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense is based on expected income and statutory tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Judgment is required in determining our income tax expense.

Our effective tax rate includes the impact of accruals and changes to accruals that we consider appropriate, as well as related interest and penalties. A number of years may lapse before a particular matter, for which we have or have not established an accrual, is audited and finally resolved. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, we believe that our accruals are appropriate under generally accepted accounting principles. Favorable or unfavorable adjustments of the accrual for any particular issue would be recognized as an increase or decrease to our income tax expense in the period of a change in facts and circumstances. Our current tax accruals are presented in income and other taxes in the consolidated balance sheet and long-term tax accruals are presented in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

Tax laws require items to be included in the tax return at different times than the items are reflected in the consolidated financial statements. As a result, the income tax expense reflected in our consolidated financial statements is different than the liability reported in our tax return. Some of these differences are permanent, which are not deductible or taxable on our tax return, and some are temporary differences, which give rise to deferred tax assets and liabilities. We establish valuation allowances for our deferred tax assets when the amount of expected future taxable income is not likely to support the use of the deduction or credit. Our net deferred tax asset is recorded using currently enacted tax laws, and may need to be adjusted in the event tax laws change.

The U.S. work opportunity credit is allowed for wages earned by employees in certain targeted groups. The actual amount of creditable wages in a particular period is estimated, since the credit is only available once an employee reaches a minimum employment period and the employee’s inclusion in a targeted group is certified by the applicable state. As these events often occur after the period the wages are earned, judgment is required in determining the amount of work opportunity credits accrued for in each period. We evaluate the accrual regularly throughout the year and make adjustments as needed.

Goodwill

We test goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. Generally accepted accounting principles require that goodwill be tested for impairment at a reporting unit level. For segments with a goodwill balance, we have determined that our reporting units are the same as our operating and reportable segments based on our organizational structure or one level below our operating segments (the component level).

We may first use a qualitative assessment ("step zero test") for the annual impairment test if we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value for one or more reporting units is greater than their carrying value. In conducting the qualitative assessment, we assess the totality of relevant events and circumstances that affect the fair value or carrying value of the reporting unit. Such events and circumstances may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, entity-specific events and events affecting a reporting unit.

If we elect to forgo the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit, goodwill is tested for impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value ("step one test"). If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit, goodwill is not considered impaired and no further testing is required. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference.

To derive the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, we primarily relied on an income approach. Under the income approach, estimated fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated market participant weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit being measured. Estimated future cash flows are based on our internal projection model and reflects management’s outlook for the reporting units. Assumptions and estimates about future cash flows and discount rates are complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. Our analysis used significant assumptions by reporting unit, including: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Softworld during the second quarter of 2021 was allocated to the SET reportable segment and Softworld was deemed to be a separate reporting unit. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Greenwood/

Asher during the fourth quarter of 2020 was allocated to the Education reportable segment, which was deemed to be a reporting unit. See the Acquisitions and Disposition footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

We completed our annual impairment test for all reporting units with goodwill in the fourth quarter for the fiscal year ended 2021. We performed a step one quantitative test for the Softworld reporting unit. As a result of the quantitative assessment, we determined that the estimated fair value of the Softworld reporting unit was more than its carrying value. Additionally, we performed a step zero qualitative analysis for the Education reporting unit to determine whether a further quantitative analysis was necessary and concluded that a step one quantitative analysis was not necessary. As a result of the quantitative and qualitative assessments, the Company determined goodwill was not impaired as of year-end 2021.

Our analysis used significant assumptions, including: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported financial results. Different assumptions of the anticipated future results and growth from our business could result in an impairment charge, which would decrease operating income and result in lower asset values on our consolidated balance sheet. The estimated fair value of the Softworld reporting unit exceeds the carrying value by more than 10%. As a measure of sensitivity of the fair value of the reporting unit, while holding all other assumptions constant, an increase in the discount rate of 100 basis points or a decrease of 100 basis points in the revenue growth rate assumptions for each forecasted period used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit would not result in an impairment of goodwill.

During the first quarter of 2020, negative market reaction to the COVID-19 crisis, including declines in our common stock price, caused our market capitalization to decline significantly compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, causing a triggering event. Therefore, we performed an interim step one quantitative test for our previous reporting units with goodwill, Americas Staffing and GTS, and determined that the estimated fair values of both reporting units no longer exceeded their carrying values. Based on the result of our interim goodwill impairment test as of the first quarter of 2020, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $147.7 million to write off the entire goodwill balance.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company elected to perform a step zero qualitative analysis to determine whether a further quantitative assessment was necessary for the reporting unit with goodwill. The step zero test included making judgments and assessments to determine whether any events or circumstances have occurred that makes it more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. As a result of this qualitative assessment, a step one quantitative analysis was not deemed necessary and the goodwill was not impaired.

At year-end 2021 and 2020, total goodwill amounted to $114.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively. See the Goodwill and Intangible Assets footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

Litigation

Kelly is subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims arising out of the normal course of business. Kelly routinely assesses the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of the accruals required, if any, for these contingencies is made after analysis of each known issue. Development of the analysis includes consideration of many factors including: potential exposure, the status of proceedings, negotiations, discussions with our outside counsel and results of similar litigation. The required accruals may change in the future due to new developments in each matter. For further discussion, see the Contingencies footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. At both year-end 2021 and 2020, the gross accrual for litigation costs amounted to $1.4 million which is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and in accrued workers’ compensation and other claims in the consolidated balance sheet.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

See New Accounting Pronouncements footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements presented in Part II, Item 8 of this report for a description of new accounting pronouncements.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein and in our investor conference call related to these results are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the applicable securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or which include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” or variations or negatives thereof or by similar or comparable words or phrases. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions by us that may be provided by management, including oral statements or other written materials released to the public, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our Company and economic and market factors in the countries in which we do business, among other things. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we have no specific intention to update these statements.

Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. The principal important risk factors that could cause our actual performance and future events and actions to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changing market and economic conditions, the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, competitive market pressures including pricing and technology introductions and disruptions, disruption in the labor market and weakened demand for human capital resulting from technological advances, competition law risks, the impact of changes in laws and regulations (including federal, state and international tax laws), unexpected changes in claim trends on workers’ compensation, unemployment, disability and medical benefit plans, or the risk of additional tax liabilities in excess of our estimates, our ability to achieve our business strategy, our ability to successfully develop new service offerings, material changes in demand from or loss of large corporate customers as well as changes in their buying practices, risks particular to doing business with government or government contractors, the risk of damage to our brand, our exposure to risks associated with services outside traditional staffing, including business process outsourcing, services of licensed professionals and services connecting talent to independent work, our increasing dependency on third parties for the execution of critical functions, our ability to effectively implement and manage our information technology strategy, the risks associated with past and future acquisitions, including risk of related impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, exposure to risks associated with investments in equity affiliates including PersolKelly Pte. Ltd., risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency fluctuations, the exposure to potential market and currency exchange risks relating to our investment in Persol Holdings, risks associated with violations of anti-corruption, trade protection and other laws and regulations, availability of qualified full-time employees, availability of temporary workers with appropriate skills required by customers, liabilities for employment-related claims and losses, including class action lawsuits and collective actions, our ability to sustain critical business applications through our key data centers, risks arising from failure to preserve the privacy of information entrusted to us or to meet our obligations under global privacy laws, the risk of cyberattacks or other breaches of network or information technology security, our ability to realize value from our tax credit and net operating loss carryforwards, our ability to maintain specified financial covenants in our bank facilities to continue to access credit markets, and other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements contained herein, and we undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations. Certain risk factors are discussed more fully under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of this report.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

We are exposed to foreign currency risk primarily related to our foreign subsidiaries. Exchange rates impact the U.S. dollar value of our reported earnings, our investments in and held by subsidiaries, local currency denominated borrowings and intercompany transactions with and between subsidiaries. Our foreign subsidiaries primarily derive revenues and incur expenses within a single country and currency which, as a result, provide a natural hedge against currency risks in connection with normal business operations. Accordingly, changes in foreign currency rates vs. the U.S. dollar, euro or Swiss franc generally do not impact local cash flows. Intercompany transactions which create transactional foreign currency risk include services, royalties, loans, contributions and distributions.

In addition, we are exposed to interest rate risks through our use of the multi-currency line of credit and other borrowings. A hypothetical fluctuation of 10% of market interest rates would not have had a material impact on 2021 earnings.

We are exposed to market and currency risks on our investment in Persol Holdings, which may be material. The investment is stated at fair value and is marked to market through net earnings. Foreign currency fluctuations on this yen-denominated

investment are reflected as a component of other comprehensive income. See Fair Value Measurements footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.

We are exposed to market risk as a result of our obligation to pay benefits under our nonqualified deferred compensation plan and our related investments in company-owned variable universal life insurance policies. The obligation to employees increases and decreases based on movements in the equity and debt markets. The investments in mutual funds, as part of the company-owned variable universal life insurance policies, are designed to mitigate, but not eliminate, this risk with offsetting gains and losses.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

The financial statements and supplementary data required by this Item are set forth in the accompanying index on page 47 of this filing and are presented in pages 48-97.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is presented preceding the consolidated financial statements on page 48 of this report.

Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022, as stated in their report which appears herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

Not applicable.

PART III

Information required by Part III with respect to Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance (Item 10), Executive Compensation (Item 11), Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters (Item 12), Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence (Item 13) and Principal Accounting Fees and Services (Item 14), except as set forth under the titles “Executive Officers of the Registrant,” which is included on pages 42-43, and “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” which is included on page 44, (Item 10), and except as set forth under the title “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” which is included on pages 44-45, (Item 12), is to be included in a definitive proxy statement filed not later than 120 days after the close of our fiscal year and the proxy statement, when filed, is incorporated in this report by reference.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

The following individuals serve as executive officers of the Company as of January 29, 2022:

Name/Office Age Served as anOfficer Since Business ExperienceDuring Last 5 Years

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT (continued)

Name/Office Age Served as anOfficer Since Business ExperienceDuring Last 5 Years

CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS.

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is included as Exhibit 14 in the Index to Exhibits on page 98. We have posted our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics on our website at www.kellyservices.com. We intend to post any changes in or waivers from our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to any of these officers on our website.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table shows the number of shares of our Class A common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights, and the number of securities remaining available for future issuance under our equity compensation plans as of the fiscal year end for 2021.

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (4) — — —

(1)The equity compensation plan approved by our stockholders is our Equity Incentive Plan.

(2)The Evergreen provision applied to shares granted prior to May 10, 2017, and the Equity Incentive Plan provided that the maximum number of shares available for grants, including restricted stock, was 15 percent of the outstanding Class A common stock, adjusted for plan activity over the preceding five years. The Company has no plans to issue additional shares under the Evergreen provision that was in effect prior to May 10, 2017.

There are no restricted stock awards, financial measure performance awards, total shareholder return performance awards, or single financial measure performance awards to exclude as of January 2, 2022 or going forward as there are no longer any unvested/unearned shares related to the Evergreen provision.

(3)The Fixed Share provision applies to shares granted on and after May 10, 2017, and the amended Equity Incentive Plan provides that the maximum number of shares available for grants is 4,700,000.

The number of shares to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights under the Fixed Share provision excludes: 402,998 shares of restricted stock; performance shares that have been earned but not yet vested totaling zero of financial measure performance awards, zero total shareholder return performance awards, and 12,776 single financial measure performance awards; and performance shares granted to employees and not yet earned or vested totaling 104,436 shares of single financial measure performance awards and 873,343 shares of financial

measure performance awards, calculated using an assumed maximum award performance level of 200%, where applicable, at January 2, 2022.

(4)The Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan is an equity compensation plan that has not been approved by our stockholders. This plan provides non-employee directors with the opportunity to defer all or a portion of the fees they receive. Participants may elect to have director fees that are paid in either cash or common stock, deferred into the plan. Participants choose from a list of investment funds as determined by the Company for their deferrals of cash. Deferrals of common stock must remain in common stock. Amounts deferred under the plan are subject to applicable tax withholding. The plan is intended to be a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Shares acquired by participants in this plan will be issued from the share reserve stated in the Equity Incentive Plan.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a)The following documents are filed as part of this report:

(i)Financial statements:

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 238)

Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three fiscal years ended January 2, 2022

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three fiscal years ended January 2, 2022

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three fiscal years ended January 2, 2022

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three fiscal years ended January 2, 2022

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(ii)Financial Statement Schedule -

For the three fiscal years ended January 2, 2022:

Schedule II - Valuation Reserves

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

(iii)The Exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits included beginning at page 98, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)The Index to Exhibits and required Exhibits are included following the Financial Statement Schedule beginning at page 98 of this filing.

(c)None.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

None.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

Page Referencein Report onForm 10-K

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 48

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 49

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021 54

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 59

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Kelly Services, Inc. (the “Company”), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

•Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

•Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company;

•Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may change.

On April 5, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Softworld. Given the significance of the Softworld acquisition and the complexity of systems and business processes, we have excluded the acquired Softworld business from our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the year ending January 2, 2022. Softworld accounted for approximately 2% of the Company's total assets as of January 2, 2022 and approximately 2% of the Company's total revenue for the year ended 2021.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

Based on our assessment, management determined that, as of January 2, 2022, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears on pages 49-51.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Kelly Services, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kelly Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended January 2, 2022, January 3, 2021, and December 29, 2019, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended January 2, 2022, January 3, 2021, and December 29, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management has excluded Softworld, Inc. from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2022 because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2021. We have also excluded Softworld, Inc. from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. Softworld, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting each represent approximately 2% of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended January 2, 2022.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the

company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Workers’ Compensation

As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, in the U.S., the Company has a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which they effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. Management establishes the accrual for workers’ compensation claims utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. Management retains an independent consulting actuary to establish loss development factors, based on historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of the ultimate claims liability. In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary considers a number of assumptions and multiple generally accepted actuarial methods in the course of preparing the loss forecast for claims. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, management records a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount. Management evaluates the accrual quarterly throughout the year and makes adjustments as needed. As disclosed by management, as of January 2, 2022, the accrual for accrued workers’ compensation, net of related receivables, is $48.4 million.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to workers’ compensation is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the actuarial methods and the significant assumptions to use in establishing the accrual for workers’ compensation claims; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s actuarial methods and significant assumptions related to the loss development factors; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Acquisition of Softworld, Inc. – Valuation of Trade Name and Customer Relationships

As described in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Softworld, Inc. (Softworld) for $217.0 million, which resulted in $79.4 million of intangible assets being recorded. Those intangible assets were comprised of a trade name of $23.1 million and customer relationships of $54.9 million. Fair value of the trade name intangible asset was estimated by management using a relief-from-royalty valuation method and customer relationships intangible asset was estimated using a multi-period excess earnings valuation method. Management’s determination of the fair value of the trade name included assumptions related to projected revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. Management’s determination of the fair value of the customer relationships included assumptions related to projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, profit margins and discount rates.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of trade name and customer relationships acquired in the Softworld acquisition is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the fair value of the intangibles; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in

performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to projected revenue growth rates, royalty rate and discount rate for the trade name intangible asset and projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rate, profit margins and discount rate for the customer relationships intangible asset; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the acquisition accounting, including controls over management’s valuation of the intangible assets and controls over development of the significant assumptions related to projected revenue growth rates, royalty rate and discount rate for the trade name intangible asset and projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rate, profit margins and discount rate for the customer relationships intangible asset. These procedures also included, among others (i) reading the purchase agreement and (ii) testing management’s process for determining the fair value of the intangible assets. Testing management’s process included evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation methods, testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the valuations, and evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions related to projected revenue growth rates, royalty rate and discount rate for the trade name intangible asset and projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rate, profit margins and discount rate for the customer relationships intangible asset. Evaluating the reasonableness of the projected revenue growth rates and profit margins involved considering the past performance of the acquired business, as well as economic and industry forecasts. Evaluating the customer attrition rate involved considering the past performance of the acquired business. The royalty rate and discount rate were evaluated by considering the royalty rates and cost of capital of comparable businesses and other industry factors. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the valuation methods and the royalty rate and discount rate significant assumptions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 17, 2022

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1960.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In millions of dollars except per share items)

Selling, general and administrative expenses 870.6 805.6 883.1

Goodwill impairment charge — 147.7 —

Gain on sale of assets — (32.1) (12.3)

Asset impairment charge — — 15.8

Earnings (loss) from operations 48.6 (93.6) 81.8

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings 121.8 (16.6) 35.8

Gain on insurance settlement 19.0 — —

Other income (expense), net (3.6) 3.4 (1.2)

Income tax expense (benefit) 35.1 (34.0) 0.4

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliate 5.4 0.8 (3.6)

Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 3.93 $ (1.83) $ 2.85

Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 3.91 $ (1.83) $ 2.84

Average shares outstanding (millions):

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions of dollars)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Less: Reclassification adjustments included in net earnings — (1.5) —

Foreign currency translation adjustments (24.2) 12.4 2.5

Less: Reclassification adjustments included in net earnings 0.2 0.1 0.1

Pension liability adjustments 0.7 (0.8) (1.2)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (23.5) 11.6 1.3

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Assets

Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 52.8 61.4

Noncurrent Assets

Property and equipment:

Net property and equipment 35.3 41.0

Operating lease right-of-use assets 75.8 83.2

Investment in Persol Holdings 264.3 164.2

Investment in equity affiliate 123.4 118.5

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current Liabilities

Short-term borrowings $ — $ 0.3

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 687.2 536.8

Operating lease liabilities 17.5 19.6

Accrued payroll and related taxes 318.4 293.0

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 20.8 22.7

Income and other taxes 51.3 53.2

Noncurrent Liabilities

Operating lease liabilities 61.4 67.5

Accrued payroll and related taxes 57.6 58.5

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 37.0 42.2

Other long-term liabilities 86.8 59.3

Commitments and contingencies (See Commitments and Contingencies footnotes)

Stockholders' Equity

Capital stock, $1.00 par value

Treasury stock, at cost

Class B common stock (0.6) (0.6)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (27.7) (4.2)

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 2,894.2 $ 2,561.9

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In millions of dollars)

Capital Stock

Class A common stock

Balance at beginning of year $ 36.7 $ 36.6 $ 36.6

Conversions from Class B — 0.1 —

Class B common stock

Balance at beginning of year 3.4 3.5 3.5

Conversions to Class A — (0.1) —

Balance at end of year 3.4 3.4 3.5

Treasury Stock

Class A common stock

Balance at beginning of year (16.5) (20.3) (25.4)

Net issuance of stock awards 2.0 3.8 5.1

Class B common stock

Balance at beginning of year (0.6) (0.6) (0.6)

Net issuance of stock awards — — —

Balance at end of year (0.6) (0.6) (0.6)

Paid-in Capital

Net issuance of stock awards 2.6 (1.2) (1.9)

Earnings Invested in the Business

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Balance at beginning of year (4.2) (15.8) (17.1)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (23.5) 11.6 1.3

Balance at end of year (27.7) (4.2) (15.8)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions of dollars)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:

Goodwill impairment charge — 147.7 —

Operating lease asset amortization 21.2 21.1 22.3

Provision for credit losses and sales allowances 1.6 12.8 4.1

Stock-based compensation 5.1 3.9 5.6

(Gain) loss on investment in Persol Holdings (121.8) 16.6 (35.8)

Gain on insurance settlement (19.0) — —

Gain on sale of assets — (32.1) (12.3)

Asset impairment charge — — 15.8

Equity in net (earnings) loss of PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. (5.4) (0.8) 3.6

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from sale of assets — 55.5 13.8

Acquisition of companies, net of cash received (213.0) (39.2) (86.4)

Proceeds from company-owned life insurance 12.2 2.3 3.0

Proceeds from insurance settlement 19.0 — —

Proceeds from sale of Brazil, net of cash disposed — 1.2 —

Proceeds (payments) related to loans to equity affiliate 5.9 5.6 (4.4)

Proceeds from (investment in) equity securities 5.0 (0.2) (1.0)

Other investing activities 1.4 0.1 0.7

Net cash (used in) from investing activities (180.7) 9.8 (94.3)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net change in short-term borrowings (0.2) (1.7) (0.3)

Financing lease payments (1.5) (2.0) (0.7)

Dividend payments (4.0) (3.0) (11.9)

Payments of tax withholding for stock awards (0.6) (1.2) (2.5)

Contingent consideration payments (1.6) — —

Other financing activities (0.2) (0.2) (0.7)

Net cash used in financing activities (8.1) (8.1) (16.1)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (108.6) 197.1 (9.1)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year 228.1 31.0 40.1

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

(1) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the amounts reported in our consolidated balance sheet:

(In millions of dollars)

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:

Current assets:

Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other current assets 0.2 — 0.2

Noncurrent assets:

Restricted cash included in other assets 6.6 5.1 5.0

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year $ 119.5 $ 228.1 $ 31.0

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations Kelly Services, Inc. is a specialty talent and workforce solutions provider operating throughout the world.

Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31. The three most recent years ended on January 2, 2022 (2021, which contained 52 weeks), January 3, 2021 (2020, which contained 53 weeks) and December 29, 2019 (2019, which contained 52 weeks). Period costs included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses are recorded on a calendar-year basis. The Company’s operations in Brazil were accounted for on a one-month lag, until the Company sold the Brazil operations in the third quarter of 2020. The Company’s equity method investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. is accounted for on a one-quarter lag (see Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. footnote). Any material transactions in the intervening period are disclosed or accounted for in the current reporting period.

Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Investment in Persol Holdings The Company’s investment in Persol Holdings, as further described in the Investment in Persol Holdings footnote, is carried at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. The fair value of the investment is based on the quoted market price.

Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. The Company has a 49% ownership interest in its equity affiliate, PersolKelly Pte. Ltd., which is accounted for under the equity method. The operating results of the equity affiliate are recorded on a one-quarter lag and included in equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliate in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Foreign Currency Translation All of the Company’s international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency, which is the currency in which they transact the majority of their activities. Revenue and expense accounts of foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at average exchange rates, while assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments, net of tax, where applicable, are reported as accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments in stockholders’ equity and are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Revenue Recognition Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those services. Our revenues are recorded net of any sales, value added, or similar taxes collected from our customers. We generate revenue from: the hourly sales of services by our temporary employees to customers (“staffing services” revenue), the recruiting of permanent employees for our customers (“permanent placement” revenue), and through our talent fulfillment and outcome-based activities (“talent solutions” and “outcome-based services” revenue).

We record revenues from sales of services and the related direct costs in accordance with the accounting guidance on reporting revenue gross as a principal versus net as an agent. When Kelly is the principal, we demonstrate control over the service by being the employer of record for the individuals performing the service, by being primarily responsible to our customers and by having a level of discretion in establishing pricing in which the gross amount is recorded as revenues. When Kelly arranges for other contingent labor suppliers and/or service providers to perform services for the customer, we do not control those services before they are transferred, and therefore, the amounts billed to our customers are net of the amounts paid to the secondary suppliers/service providers and the net amount is recorded as revenues.

Staffing Services Revenue

Staffing services contracts are short-term in nature. Billings are generally negotiated and invoiced on a per-hour or per-unit basis as the temporary staffing services are transferred to the customer. Revenue from the majority of our staffing services continues to be recognized over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. We have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Permanent Placement Revenue

Permanent placement revenue is recorded at the point in time the permanent placement candidate begins full-time employment. On the candidate start date, the customer accepts the candidate and can direct the use of the candidate as well as obtains the significant risk and rewards of the candidate. We consider this the point the control transfers to the customer.

Outcome-Based Services Revenue

Billings are generally negotiated and invoiced on a measure of time (hours, weeks, months) or per-unit basis for our services performed. We continue to recognize revenue from the majority of our outcome-based services over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. For the majority of our outcome-based services, we have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

Talent Solutions Revenue

Talent Solution services include: overall program management of our client’s contingent workforce, external vendors and/or independent contractors, end-to-end talent acquisition, and payroll outsourcing. Billings are generally negotiated and invoiced as a fee-based commission contingent on the amount of services managed through the program, a monthly management fee, measure of time (hours), or a per-unit basis for our services performed. We continue to recognize revenue for talent solution services over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the services we provide. We have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue for these services over the term of the agreement in proportion to the amount we have the right to invoice the customer.

Variable Consideration

Certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as a form of variable consideration. We estimate these amounts based on the expected or likely amount to be provided to customers and reduce revenues recognized to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of such adjustment will not occur. Provisions for sales allowances (billing adjustments related to errors, service issues and compromises on billing disputes), based on historical experience, are recognized at the time the related sale is recognized as a reduction in revenue from services.

Payment Terms

Customer payments are typically due within 60 days of invoicing, but may be shorter or longer depending on contract terms. Management does not assess whether a contract has a significant financing component if the expectation at contract inception is that the period between payment by the customer and the transfer of the services to the customer will be less than one year. We do not have any significant financing components or extended payment terms.

Deferred Revenue

Items which are billed to the customer at a point in time, rather than billed over time as the services are delivered to the customer, are assessed for potential revenue deferral. At this time, the balance of the contract liability as well as the amount of revenue recognized in the reporting period that was included in the deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period is not material.

Deferred Costs

Occasionally, fulfillment costs are incurred after obtaining a contract in order to generate a resource that will be used to provide our services. These costs are considered incremental and recoverable costs to fulfill our contract with the customer. These costs to fulfill a contract are deferred and then amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of benefit that we have determined to be the average length of assignment of the employees. We determined the period of benefit by taking into consideration our customer contracts, attrition rates and other relevant factors. Amortization expense is included in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings.

Unsatisfied Performance Obligations

The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Trade Accounts Receivable The Company records an allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, billed and unbilled, based on historical loss experience, customer payment patterns, current economic trends, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable. The reserve for sales allowances is also included in the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable. The Company estimates the current expected credit losses by applying internally developed loss rates to all outstanding receivable balances by aging category. Accounts receivable are written-off against the allowance when they are deemed uncollectible. The Company reviews the adequacy of the allowance for uncollectible accounts

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

receivable on a quarterly basis and, if necessary, increases or decreases the balance by recording a charge or credit to SG&A expenses for the portion of the adjustment relating to uncollectible accounts receivable, and a charge or credit to revenue from services for the portion of the adjustment relating to sales allowances.

We are exposed to credit losses primarily through our sales of workforce solution services to customers. We establish an allowance for estimated credit losses in the current period resulting from the failure of our customers to make required payments on their trade accounts receivable in future periods. We pool such assets by geography and other similar risk characteristics, such as accounts in collection, and apply an aging method to estimate future credit losses utilizing inputs such as historical write-off experience, customer payment patterns, current collection data, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to short payment terms. The Company also performs ongoing credit evaluations using applicable credit ratings of its customers to help analyze credit risk. We monitor ongoing credit exposure through frequent review of past due accounts (based on the payment terms of the contract) and follow-up with customers, as appropriate.We may employ collection agencies and legal counsel to pursue recovery of defaulted receivables.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Other Financial Assets The Company measures expected credit losses on qualified financial assets that do not result from revenue transactions using a probability of default method by type of financing receivable. The estimate of expected credit losses considers credit ratings, financial data, historical write-off experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable, to estimate the risk of loss.

Cost of Services Cost of services are those costs directly associated with the earning of revenue. The primary examples of these types of costs are temporary employee wages, along with other employee related costs, including associated payroll taxes, temporary employee benefits, such as service bonus and holiday pay, and workers’ compensation costs. These costs differ fundamentally from SG&A expenses in that they arise specifically from the action of providing our services to customers whereas SG&A costs are incurred regardless of whether or not we place temporary employees with our customers.

Advertising Expenses Advertising expenses, which are expensed as incurred and are included in SG&A expenses, were $7.5 million in 2021, $8.1 million in 2020 and $9.4 million in 2019.

Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable and credit losses, workers’ compensation, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, valuation of acquired intangibles, impairment of equity affiliates, litigation costs and income taxes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Equivalents Cash and equivalents are stated at fair value. The Company considers securities with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and equivalents.

Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Cost and estimated useful lives of property and equipment by function are as follows:

(In millions of dollars)

Land $ — $ — —

Work in process 0.3 0.4 —

Buildings and improvements 12.9 12.9 15 to 40 years

Computer hardware and software 147.9 152.3 3 to 12 years

Equipment, furniture and fixtures 26.6 34.8 5 years

Leasehold improvements 17.4 21.9 HQ: 15 years

Branches: Lesser of the lease or 5 years

Total property and equipment $ 205.1 $ 222.3

The Company capitalizes external costs and internal payroll costs directly incurred in the development of software for internal use as required by the Internal-Use Software Subtopic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Standards Codification (“ASC”). Work in process represents capitalized costs for internal use software not yet in service. Depreciation expense was $16.4 million for 2021, $16.8 million for 2020 and $25.3 million for 2019.

Cloud Computing Arrangements The Company has cloud computing arrangements that are comprised of internal use software platforms that are accounted for as service contracts. The Company does not have the ability to take possession of the software without significant penalty nor can the Company run the software on its own hardware or contract with another party unrelated to the vendor to host the software. Implementation costs associated with these cloud computing arrangements are capitalized when incurred during the application development phase. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis and is a component of SG&A expenses in our consolidated statements of earnings.

Amortization expense was $2.2 million for 2021 and $1.0 million for 2020. The related accumulated amortization totaled $3.2 million in 2021 and $1.0 million in 2020. Capitalized amounts related to such arrangements are recorded within prepaid and other current assets and non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. As of year-end 2021 and 2020, the Company had $2.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets and $13.9 million and $7.2 million, respectively, recorded in non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheets related to capitalized cloud computing arrangements (see Other Assets footnote).

Leases Right-of-use("ROU") assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Since most of the Company’s leases do not have an implicit borrowing rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Our leases may include options allowing us in our sole discretion to extend or terminate the lease, and when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise those options, we will include those periods in our lease term. Variable costs, such as payments for insurance and tax payments, are expensed when the obligation for those payments is incurred.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the acquisition date fair value of net assets acquired. Purchased intangible assets are primarily comprised of acquired trade names and customer relationships that are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. The fair value of trade name intangibles is determined using the relief-from-royalty method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates. The fair value of customer relationship intangibles is determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, which relies on the use of estimates and assumptions about projected revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, profit margins and discount rates.

Purchased intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their respective useful lives (from 4 to 15 years) on a straight-line basis.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Equity Method Investmentsand Equity Securities The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When estimated undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the asset group, in which the long-lived asset being tested for impairment resides, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

required. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference.

To derive the estimated fair value of reporting units, we primarily relied on an income approach. Under the income approach, estimated fair value is determined based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated market participant weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of the reporting unit being measured. Estimated future cash flows are based on our internal projection model and reflects management’s outlook for the reporting unit. Assumptions and estimates about future cash flows and discount rates are complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. Our analysis used significant assumptions by reporting unit, including: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

We evaluate our equity method investment on a quarterly basis or whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may be other-than-temporarily impaired. If we conclude that there is an other-than-temporary impairment of our equity method investment, we will adjust our carrying amount of our investment to the adjusted fair value.

We evaluate our equity securities measured under the measurement alternative for indicators of impairment on a quarterly basis and whenever observable price changes occur. The measurement alternative represents cost, less impairment, plus or minus observable price changes. Quarterly, we also confirm the securities still qualify to be measured in accordance with the measurement alternative. The value of the securities will be adjusted for any increases or decreases as a result of an observable price change.

Accounts Payable Included in accounts payable are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $5.4 million and $9.3 million at year-end 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Accrued Payroll and Related Taxes Included in current accrued payroll and related taxes are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $39.1 million and $11.0 million at year-end 2021 and 2020, respectively. Payroll taxes for temporary employees are recognized proportionately to direct wages for interim periods based on expected full-year amounts. Included in current and noncurrent accrued payroll and related taxes are deferred U.S. payroll tax payments as allowed by COVID-19 economic relief legislation.

Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. Valuation allowances are provided against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Uncertain tax positions that are taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of more than fifty percent) that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Interest and penalties related to income taxes are classified as income tax expense. U.S. taxes on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) are accounted for as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation The Company may grant restricted stock awards and units (collectively, “restricted stock”) and performance awards to key employees associated with the Company’s Class A stock. The Company utilizes the market price on the date of grant as the fair value for restricted stock and the market price on the date of grant less the present value of the expected dividends not received during the vesting period for performance awards. The Company also estimates the fair value of performance awards related to relative total shareholder return or awards with a total shareholder return modifier using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The value of awards is recognized as expense, net of forfeitures as they occur, over the requisite service periods in SG&A expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings.

Earnings Per Share Restricted stock that entitle their holders to receive nonforfeitable dividends before vesting are considered participating securities and, therefore, are included in the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method. The

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Under this method, earnings from continuing operations (or net earnings) is reduced by the amount of dividends declared, and the remaining undistributed earnings is allocated to common stock and participating securities based on the proportion of each class’s weighted average shares outstanding to the total weighted average shares outstanding. The calculation of diluted earnings per share includes the effect of potential common shares outstanding in the average weighted shares outstanding.

Workers’ Compensation In the U.S., the Company has a combination of insurance and self-insurance contracts under which we effectively bear the first $1.0 million of risk per single accident. The Company establishes accruals for workers’ compensation claims utilizing actuarial methods to estimate the undiscounted future cash payments that will be made to satisfy the claims, including an allowance for incurred-but-not-reported claims. The Company retains an independent consulting actuary to establish loss development factors, based on historical claims experience as well as industry experience, and applies those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of the ultimate claims liability.

In preparing the estimates, the consulting actuary considers a number of assumptions and multiple generally accepted actuarial methods in the course of preparing the loss forecast for claims. When claims exceed the applicable loss limit or self-insured retention and realization of recovery of the claim from existing insurance policies is deemed probable, the Company records a receivable from the insurance company for the excess amount. The receivable is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets in the consolidated balance sheet at year end. The Company evaluates the accrual quarterly throughout the year and makes adjustments as needed, and the ultimate cost of these claims may be greater than or less than the established accrual.

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

2. Revenue

Revenue Disaggregated by Service Type

Kelly has five operating segments: Professional & Industrial (“P&I”), Science, Engineering & Technology (“SET”), Education, Outsourcing & Consulting Group ("Outsourcing & Consulting," "OCG") and International. Other than OCG, each segment delivers talent through staffing services, permanent placement or outcome-based services. Our OCG segment delivers talent solutions including managed service provider ("MSP"), payroll process outsourcing ("PPO"), recruitment process outsourcing ("RPO"), and talent advisory services. International also delivers RPO talent solutions within its local markets.

The following table presents our segment revenues disaggregated by service type (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Professional & Industrial

Science, Engineering & Technology

Education

Permanent placement 5.0 0.5 0.9

Outsourcing & Consulting

KELYA US Equity

KELYA · 10-K · period ended 2022-01-02

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

KELYA US Equity☆

KELYA · 10-K · period ended 2022-01-02

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.

ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.

ITEM 12. SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

KELYA US Equity