KELYA US Equity☆

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

Executive Overview

In 2022, Kelly moved forward on its strategic growth journey amid a dynamic macroeconomic environment in the first half of the year. As the year progressed, a mixed pattern of revenue growth and deceleration emerged and persisted through the balance of 2022 driven by rising inflation, increasing interest rates and heightened economic uncertainty. Consequently, a growing number of employers scaled back or paused hiring – and in some cases reduced the size of their workforces – to align their costs with declining growth. Notwithstanding these dynamics, the labor market remained tight. The economy continued to add jobs – albeit at a slightly slower pace to end the year – and unemployment remained at historically low levels, which contributed to ongoing challenges with sourcing talent.

By executing our strategy in a disciplined manner and focusing on factors within our control, we managed through these ongoing headwinds and achieved solid growth over the prior year.

•We increased total company revenue driven by top-line growth in our Education, SET and OCG business units.

•Our more profitable outcome-based solutions demonstrated resilience amid macroeconomic headwinds and generated solid revenue and gross profit growth.

•Each of our five business units expanded itsgross profit rate, reflecting our ongoing drive to shift toward a higher-margin, higher-value business mix.

•Excluding the impact of goodwill impairment charges and a loss on the disposal of our Russian operations, we improved earnings from operations, demonstrating our ability to effectively translate gross margin expansion to earnings growth.

2022 was also a year in which we accelerated our transformation and streamlined our portfolio.

•We ended the cross-ownership arrangement between Kelly and Persol Holdings – selling our investment in the common shares of Persol Holdings and repurchasing our Class A and B common shares held by Persol Holdings – and reduced our ownership interest in our PersolKelly joint venture, unlocking $235 million of liquidity.

•We redeployed a portion of the net proceeds from these transactions to advance our inorganic growth strategy, while preserving the remaining capital to pursue additional high-margin, high-growth acquisitions in the future.

•We monetized non-core real estate holdings, unlocking more capital to invest in growth initiatives.

•We acted decisively to transfer ownership of our Russian operations to a Russian company.

•We increased our dividend to its pre-pandemic level and authorized a $50 million repurchase of outstanding Class A common shares.

Together, these achievements and actions demonstrate our commitment to our specialty growth strategy and create long-term value for all our stakeholders.

As the macroeconomic situation unfolds in 2023, we will stay the course in our pursuit of profitable growth while proactively controlling costs to manage through this economic cycle. In each of our chosen specialties, we will continue to shift toward a business mix characterized not only by higher margins and value, but greater resilience to lessen the impact of market fluctuations. We also intend to drive inorganic growth using our available capital to pursue additional high-quality acquisitions in Education, SET and OCG. Finally, we will continue to invest in technology and new products that will improve the talent and customer experience, increase efficiency and enable organic growth. Together, these actions will ensure that we continue to move forward on our strategic journey in pursuit of profitable, specialty growth.

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Financial Measures

The constant currency (“CC”) change amounts in the following tables refer to the year-over-year percentage changes resulting from translating 2022 financial data into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates used to translate financial data for 2021. 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 measures and are used to supplement measures in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). 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.

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Results of Operations

Total Company

(Dollars in millions)

SG&A expenses excluding restructuring charges 943.5 866.6 8.9

Restructuring charges — 4.0 NM

Goodwill impairment charge (41.0) — NM

Loss on disposal (18.7) — NM

Gain on sale of assets 6.2 — NM

Earnings (loss) from operations 14.8 48.6 (69.7)

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings (67.2) 121.8 NM

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary (20.4) — NM

Gain on insurance settlement — 19.0 NM

Other income (expense), net 1.6 (3.6) 146.4

Income tax expense (benefit) (7.9) 35.1 (122.6)

Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliate 0.8 5.4 (85.9)

Net earnings (loss) $ (62.5) $ 156.1 NM %

The discussion that follows focuses on 2022 results compared to 2021. For a discussion of 2021 results compared to 2020, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2022, filed on February 17, 2022.

2022 vs. 2021

Revenue from services increased 1.1% on a reported basis and 3.2% on a constant currency basis, and reflects revenue increases in Education, Science, Engineering & Technology, and Outsourcing & Consulting operating segments, partially offset by declines in Professional & Industrial and International segments. Our first quarter 2021 acquisition of Softworld, a technology staffing and solutions firm, and our first quarter 2022 acquisition of RocketPower, an RPO solutions provider, and our second quarter 2022 acquisition of PTS, a specialty firm that provides in-school therapy services, added approximately 180 basis points to the revenue growth rate. Compared to 2021, revenue from staffing services decreased 1.2% and revenue from outcome-based services increased 6.3%. Permanent placement revenue, which is included in revenue from services, increased 18.9% from 2021.

Gross profit increased 10.1% on a reported basis and 12.1% on a constant currency basis on higher revenue volume, combined with an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 170 basis points due primarily to favorable product mix, lower employee-related costs, higher permanent placement income and the impact of the acquisitions of Softworld, RocketPower and PTS, which generate higher gross profit rates. The gross profit rate increased in all operating segments. Permanent placement revenue, which is included in revenue from services and has very low direct costs of services, has a disproportionate impact on gross profit rates.

Total SG&A expenses increased 8.4% on a reported basis and 10.0% on a constant currency basis. Approximately 320 basis points of the year-over-year increase is attributable to the first quarter SG&A expenses for Softworld and the SG&A expenses for RocketPower and PTS, including amortization of intangibles and other operating expenses. The increase in SG&A

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expenses also reflects increases in salary and related costs and increases in performance-based incentive compensation expenses.

The goodwill impairment charge relates to our RocketPower business, which delivers RPO services primarily to customers in the high-tech industry, and is included in the Outsourcing & Consulting segment. Changes in market conditions related to demand in hiring in the high-tech industry and slowing growth in RPO more broadly resulted in a goodwill impairment charge of $41.0 million in 2022.

Loss on disposal relates to our decision in May 2022 to sell our business in Russia. As a result, our Russian operations were classified as a held for sale disposal group and an impairment loss of $18.5 million representing the excess carrying value over the fair value of the net assets, less costs to sell, was recognized in the second quarter of 2022 with an additional loss of $0.2 million recognized in the third quarter upon completion of the transaction. Gain on sale of assets relates to the disposition of under-utilized real property located in the United States.

Earnings from operations for 2022 totaled $14.8 million, compared to earnings of $48.6 million in 2021. The decline is due primarily to the goodwill impairment charge and the loss on disposal, partially offset by higher gross profit, net of increased SG&A expenses and gain on sale of assets. Included in total earnings from operations in 2022 is approximately $14.4 million related to Softworld, RocketPower and PTS earnings from operations, inclusive of amortization of intangibles but excluding the RocketPower goodwill impairment charge, and $6.3 million in 2021 related to Softworld, inclusive of amortization of intangibles.

The loss on investment in Persol Holdings in 2022 represented the $52.4 million loss resulting from changes in the market price of our investment in the common stock of Persol Holdings up until the date of the transaction and the $14.8 million loss on sale, including transaction costs from the sale of the investment in an open-market transaction. The gain on the investment in Persol Holdings in 2021 resulted from changes in the quoted market price of the Persol Holdings common stock.

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary represents the impact of the liquidation of our Kelly Japan subsidiary following the sale of the company’s investment in Persol Holdings and the return of capital through a dividend payment to its U.S. parent.

The change in Other income (expense), net is primarily the result of $5.5 million of foreign exchange gains related to U.S.-denominated cash equivalents held by our Kelly Japan subsidiary following the sale of the Persol Holdings shares and prior to its dividend payment to the U.S. parent in the first quarter of 2022.

Income tax benefit was $7.9 million for 2022 and income tax expense was $35.1 million for 2021. 2022 benefited from lower pretax earnings, changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings, and the impairment of tax deductible goodwill. These benefits were offset by the charge associated with tax exempt life insurance cash surrender value losses. Income tax expense for 2021 included charges from changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings and the gain on insurance settlement. These amounts were offset by benefits from a change in tax rate in the United Kingdom and tax exempt life insurance cash surrender value gains.

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, prior to February 2022, changes in the fair value of the Company’s investment in Persol Holdings which were treated as discrete since they could not be estimated.

The net loss for 2022 was $62.5 million, compared to net earnings of $156.1 million for 2021. This change was due to the Persol Holdings investment, including the first quarter 2022 sale and related impacts, the goodwill impairment charge, the loss on disposal related to the sale of our Russian operations, partially offset by improved gross profit in 2022 and the gain on sale of under-utilized real property in the United States.

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Operating Results By Segment

(Dollars in millions)

Revenue From Services:

Less: Intersegment revenue (2.6) (0.9) 182.8

2022 vs. 2021

Professional & Industrial revenue from services decreased 9.3%. The decrease was due primarily to a 12.4% decline in staffing services resulting from lower hours volume, partially offset by higher bill rates. Included in the decline in hours was the impact from a shift of a large staffing customer to a permanent placement model which resulted in lower staffing volume. Revenue from outcome-based services declined 0.3% due to lower demand for our call center specialty, partially offset by growth in other specialties.

Science, Engineering & Technology revenue from services increased 9.4% on a reported basis, which includes revenue from the acquisition of Softworld in the second quarter of 2021. Excluding the impact of the addition of Softworld revenue in the first quarter of 2022, the revenue growth was 6.1%, which was driven by increases in our outcome-based services as well as an increase in revenue in our staffing business coming from increases in bill rates and permanent placement income, partially offset by a decline in hours.

Education revenue from services increased 52.7%. The revenue increase includes the impact of the acquisition of PTS in May 2022. On an organic basis, revenue increased 45.9% reflecting increased demand from existing customers, new customer wins and the impact of higher bill rates.

Outsourcing & Consulting revenue from services increased 8.3% on a reported basis, which includes the revenue from the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022. On an organic basis, revenue growth was 2.7% due primarily to strong demand for RPO services, coupled with revenue growth in MSP, partially offset by declines in PPO revenue.

International revenue from services decreased 12.7% on a reported basis and decreased 4.7% in constant currency. The decrease was primarily the result of the sale of our Russian operations in July 2022, combined with revenue declines in Mexico due to the impact of legislation enacted in the third quarter of 2021, which placed restrictions on the staffing industry. Revenue in Europe decreased 9.2% on a reported basis and decreased 0.3% in constant currency, with the impact of the sale of our Russian operations nearly offset by growth in most geographies.

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Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Gross Profit:

Gross Profit Rate:

Professional & Industrial 18.2 % 16.9 % 1.3 pts.

Science, Engineering & Technology 23.5 21.9 1.6

Consolidated Total 20.4 % 18.7 % 1.7 pts.

2022 vs. 2021

Gross profit for the Professional & Industrial segment decreased due to lower revenue volume, partially offset by an increase in the gross profit rate. In comparison to the prior year, the gross profit rate increased 130 basis points. This increase reflects improved business mix, higher permanent placement income, including conversion fees related to a large customer and lower employee-related costs.

Science, Engineering & Technology gross profit increased on higher revenue volume, combined with an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 160 basis points due to improved specialty mix, including the acquisition of Softworld which generates higher gross profit margins, and increased permanent placement income, 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 20 basis points, due primarily to the acquisition of PTS which generates higher margins, and higher permanent placement income at Greenwood/Asher.

Outsourcing & Consulting gross profit increased on higher revenue volume, combined with an increase in the gross profit rate. The gross profit rate increased 360 basis points, primarily due to a change in product mix within this segment. Growth in RPO, including the acquisition of RocketPower, and MSP with higher margins, was coupled with decreased revenues in our PPO product, which generates lower profit margins.

International gross profit decreased 4.3% on a reported basis and improved 4.6% on a constant currency basis. On a reported basis, lower revenue volume was partially offset by an improved gross profit rate. On a constant currency basis, the improved gross profit rate more than offset the impact of lower revenue volume. In comparison to the prior year, the gross profit rate increased 140 basis points, primarily due to improved business mix and higher permanent placement income.

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Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

SG&A Expenses:

2022 vs. 2021

Total SG&A expenses in Professional & Industrial decreased 2.9%, primarily due to lower expenses to support lower volumes in our staffing and outcome-based call center specialties, partially offset by higher performance-based incentive compensation expense.

Total SG&A expenses in Science, Engineering & Technology increased 19.2%, and includes the impact of the acquisition of Softworld in the second quarter of 2021. Excluding the impact of the addition of Softworld expenses in the first quarter of 2022, SG&A expenses increased 13.6%. The increase in organic SG&A expenses is due primarily to higher performance-based incentive compensation expense and higher salary-related costs from increasing headcount.

Total SG&A expenses in Education increased 31.7%, and includes the impact of the acquisition of PTS in May 2022. Excluding the impact of the PTS acquisition, SG&A expenses increased 24.0%, due primarily to higher salary-related expenses as headcount has increased as revenues have grown.

Total SG&A expenses in Outsourcing & Consulting increased 22.1%, and includes the impact of the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022. Excluding the impact of the RocketPower acquisition, SG&A expenses increased 12.0%, due primarily to higher salary-related expenses as headcount has increased as revenues have grown.

Total SG&A expenses in International decreased 4.6% on a reported basis and increased 3.6% on a constant currency basis. The increase in constant currency was primarily due to higher salary-related expenses driven by an increase in headcount, reflecting improving revenue in Europe, partially offset by the impact of the sale of our Russian operations in July 2022.

Corporate expenses increased 6.6%, primarily due to higher performance-based incentive compensation expense.

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Operating Results By Segment (continued)

(Dollars in millions)

Earnings (Loss) from Operations:

Professional & Industrial $ 32.0 $ 31.4 1.8 %

Science, Engineering & Technology 82.1 73.7 11.4

Outsourcing & Consulting (21.2) 18.7 NM

Loss on disposal (18.7) — NM

Gain on sale of assets 6.2 — NM

2022 vs. 2021

Professional & Industrial reported earnings of $32.0 million, a 1.8% increase from 2021. The increase was due to effective cost management as gross profit declined.

Science, Engineering & Technology reported earnings of $82.1 million, an 11.4% increase from 2021. The increase in earnings was primarily due to the impact of the Softworld acquisition. In addition, increases in gross profit in our outcome-based and telecom specialties were partially offset by increases in certain expenses in most of our specialties in the SET business unit, including those related to additional headcount and increased performance-based incentive compensation.

Education reported earnings of $18.5 million in 2022, compared to earnings of $3.0 million in 2021. The change was primarily due to the increase in revenue resulting from improved demand for our services as compared to 2021, coupled with operating leverage. 2022 results also include earnings of $3.8 million from PTS acquired in May 2022.

Outsourcing & Consulting reported a loss of $21.2 million in 2022, compared to earnings of $18.7 million in 2021, due primarily to a charge of $41.0 million related to the impairment of goodwill of RocketPower in 2022.

International reported earnings of $9.9 million in both 2022 and 2021. The decline in earnings due to the sale of operations in Russia was nearly offset by growth in most geographies.

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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.

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 $162.4 million at year-end 2022, compared to $119.5 million at year-end 2021. As further described below, during 2022, we used $76.3 million of cash for operating activities, generated $167.5 million of cash from investing activities and used $50.6 million of cash for financing activities.

Operating Activities

In 2022, we used $76.3 million of net cash for operating activities, as compared to generating $85.0 million in 2021 and generating $186.0 million in 2020. Net cash used for operating activities in 2022 and 2021 included $86.8 million and $29.7 million, respectively, of cash outflows related to the repayment of U.S. payroll taxes originally deferred in 2020. Net cash from operating activities in 2020 benefited from the deferral of $117.0 million of U.S. payroll taxes. In addition, in 2022 we paid $48.4 million of income taxes related to the sale of Persol Holdings common stock.

The change from 2021 to 2022 was primarily due to the impact of payments related to the payroll tax deferral, income tax payments related to the sale of Persol Holdings common stock and increased working capital requirements. Trade accounts receivable totaled $1.5 billion at year-end 2022 and $1.4 billion at year-end 2021. Global DSO for the fourth quarter was 61 days for 2022, compared to 60 days for 2021. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities was $723.3 million and increased from year-end 2021 as a result of increased MSP supplier payables. The change from 2020 to 2021 was primarily due to the deferral of payroll tax payments, partially offset by the impact of higher global DSO.

Our working capital position (total current assets less total current liabilities) was $586.4 million at year-end 2022, an increase of $92.9 million from year-end 2021. Excluding the increase in cash, working capital increased $51.9 million from year-end 2021. The current ratio (total current assets divided by total current liabilities) was 1.5 at year-end 2022 and 2021.

Investing Activities

In 2022, we generated $167.5 million of net cash from investing activities, compared to using $180.7 million in 2021 and generating $9.8 million in 2020. Included in cash generated from investing activities in 2022 is $196.9 million of proceeds from the sale of the investment in Persol Holdings, $119.5 million of proceeds from the sale of almost all of the Company's shares in our equity investment in PersolKelly and $10.1 million of proceeds from the sale of land and other real property. This was partially offset by $58.3 million of cash used for the acquisition of RocketPower in March 2022, net of cash received, $84.8 million of cash used for the acquisition of PTS in May 2022, net of cash received, and $6.0 million of cash disposed from the sale of our operations in Russia in July 2022, net of proceeds.

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

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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.

Capital expenditures totaled $12.0 million in 2022, $11.2 million in 2021 and $15.5 million in 2020. Capital expenditures in both 2022 and 2021 primarily related to the Company's IT infrastructure, technology programs and headquarters furniture and fixtures. Capital expenditures in 2020 primarily related to the Company's headquarters leasehold improvements, IT infrastructure and technology programs.

Financing Activities

In 2022, we used $50.6 million of cash for financing activities, as compared to using $8.1 million in both 2021 and 2020. The change in cash used for financing activities was primarily related to the buyback of the Company's common shares held by Persol Holdings for $27.2 million in February 2022, $7.8 million in share repurchases of the Company's Class A common stock in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the year-over-year change in dividend payments. Dividends paid per common share were $0.275 in 2022, $0.10 in 2021 and $0.075 in 2020. 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. Debt totaled $0.7 million at year-end 2022, which represented local borrowings, compared to no debt at year-end 2021. 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 0.1% at year-end 2022 and 0.0% at year-end 2021.

In 2022, the net change in short-term borrowings was primarily due to borrowings on local lines of credit. In 2021 and 2020, 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 2022:

Payment due by period

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

(In millions of dollars)

Short-term borrowings 0.7 0.7 — — —

Uncertain income tax positions 0.6 0.2 0.3 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.

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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 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. We have repaid the $117.0 million deferred payroll tax balances, including $29.5 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $57.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

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 2022 year end, these reviews have not resulted in specific plans to repatriate a majority of our international cash balances. 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 2022, we had $200.0 million of available capacity on our $200.0 million revolving credit facility and $100.5 million of available capacity on our $150.0 million securitization facility. The securitization facility carried no short-term borrowings and $49.5 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 2022 and as of the 2022 year end, we met the debt covenants related to our revolving credit facility and securitization facility.

At year-end 2022, we also had additional unsecured, uncommitted short-term credit facilities totaling $5.9 million, under which we had $0.7 million of borrowings. Details of our debt facilities as of the 2022 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 if demand for our services increases. We also expect to use $42.2 million of cash for repurchases of the Company's Class A common stock during 2023 pursuant to the $50.0 million plan approved by the Company's board of directors on November 9, 2022.

In February 2022, we completed transactions to monetize a substantial portion of our assets in the Asia-Pacific region which will allow us to strategically redeploy resources to accelerate our growth. Specifically, we concluded our cross-shareholding arrangement with Persol Holdings and reduced 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 sold almost all of our ownership interest in PersolKelly to our joint venture partner. In 2022, the Company paid $48.4 million in taxes resulting from the sale of the Persol Holdings shares.

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.

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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 and loss rates, 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 $43.3 million and $48.4 million at year-end 2022 and 2021, 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.

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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. GAAP requires 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.

For the step one quantitative test, we determine the fair value of our reporting units using the 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.

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The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of RocketPower during the first quarter of 2022 was allocated to the OCG reportable segment and RocketPower was deemed to be a separate reporting unit. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition of PTS during the second quarter of 2022 was allocated to the Education reportable segment and PTS was deemed to be a separate reporting unit. 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. See the Acquisitions and Dispositions 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 2022. We performed a step one quantitative test for the Softworld and PTS reporting units. As a result of the quantitative assessment, we determined that the estimated fair value of the Softworld and PTS reporting units was more than its carrying value. Additionally, we performed a step zero qualitative analysis for the Education and RocketPower reporting units to determine whether a further quantitative analysis was necessary and concluded that a step one quantitative analysis was not necessary at that time. As a result of the quantitative and qualitative assessments, the Company determined goodwill related to these reporting units was not impaired at that time.

During 2022, customers within the high-tech industry vertical, in which RocketPower specializes, reduced or eliminated their full-time hiring, reducing demand for RocketPower's services, and on-going economic uncertainty has more broadly impacted the growth in demand for RPO in the near-term. These changes in market conditions therefore caused a triggering event requiring an interim impairment test for goodwill as of the third quarter of 2022. Job eliminations in the high-tech industry vertical continued during the fourth quarter of 2022, indicating a broad, sustained reduction in hiring was likely and is now expected to last through much of 2023, directly impacting RocketPower and the demand for RocketPower's services in this vertical. These changes in market conditions caused another triggering event requiring an interim impairment test for goodwill as of year-end 2022.

We performed an interim step one quantitative test for RocketPower’s goodwill and determined that the estimated fair value of the reporting unit no longer exceeded the carrying value as of third quarter-end and year-end 2022. Based on the result of our interim goodwill impairment test, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $30.7 million in the third quarter of 2022 and we recorded an additional goodwill impairment charge of $10.3 million to write off the remaining balance of RocketPower’s goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2022, for a total goodwill impairment charge of $41.0 million as of year-end 2022.

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 and PTS reporting units exceeds the carrying value by more than 10%. As a measure of sensitivity of the fair value for the Softworld and PTS reporting units, 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 both reporting units would not result in an impairment of goodwill.

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.

At year-end 2022 and 2021, total goodwill amounted to $151.1 million and $114.8 million, respectively. See the Goodwill and Intangible Assets footnote in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for more information.

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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 year-end 2022 and 2021, the gross accrual for litigation costs amounted to $2.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, 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.

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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 brands, 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 certain equity investments, including with strategic partners, risks associated with conducting business in foreign countries, including foreign currency fluctuations, 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 2022 earnings.

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

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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 42 of this filing and are presented in pages 43-95.

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 43 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 1, 2023, 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.

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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 38-39, and “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” which is included on page 40, (Item 10), and except as set forth under the title “Equity Compensation Plan Information,” which is included on page 40, (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 1, 2023:

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ITEM 10. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT (continued)

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

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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 96. 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 2022.

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(3) — — —

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

(2)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: 607,154 shares of restricted stock; performance shares that have been earned but not yet vested totaling 8,388 financial measure performance awards, and 82,996 single financial measure performance awards; and performance shares granted to employees and not yet earned or vested totaling 893,573 shares of financial measure performance awards, calculated using an assumed maximum award performance level of 200%, where applicable, at January 1, 2023.

(3)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.

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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 1, 2023

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2023

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2023

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2023

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(ii)Financial Statement Schedule -

For the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2023:

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 96, which is incorporated herein by reference.

(b)The Index to Exhibits and required Exhibits are included following the Financial Statement Schedule beginning at page 96 of this filing.

(c)None.

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY.

None.

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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 43

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 44

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022 49

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 54

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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; and

•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.

The Company completed the acquisition of RocketPower on March 7, 2022 and the acquisition of PTS on May 2, 2022. Under guidelines established by the SEC, companies are permitted to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting during the first year of an acquisition while integrating the acquired company. Accordingly, we have excluded the acquired RocketPower and PTS businesses from our assessment and report on internal control over financial reporting for the year ending January 1, 2023. We are in the process of integrating RocketPower and PTS into our system of internal control over financial reporting. RocketPower and PTS both individually accounted for less than 1% of the Company's total assets as of January 1, 2023 and less than 1% of the Company's total revenue for the year ended 2022.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2023. 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 1, 2023, 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 1, 2023 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears on pages 44-46.

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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 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended January 1, 2023, January 2, 2022, and January 3, 2021, 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 1, 2023, 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 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended January 1, 2023, January 2, 2022, and January 3, 2021 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 1, 2023, 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 Rocket Power Holdings LLC and Rocket Power Ops LLC (collectively, RocketPower) and Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS) from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2023, because they were acquired by the Company in purchase business combinations during 2022. We have also excluded RocketPower and PTS from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. RocketPower and PTS are wholly-owned subsidiaries whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting both individually represented less than 1% of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended January 1, 2023.

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

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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.

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 deteriorate.

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.

Goodwill Interim Impairment Assessment – RocketPower Reporting Unit

As described in Notes 1, 4, and 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s goodwill balance was $151.1 million as of January 1, 2023, and the goodwill allocated to the RocketPower reporting unit was $41.0 million upon its March 2022 acquisition and $0 as of January 1, 2023. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter each year and regularly assesses whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. 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. During the third quarter of 2022, customers within the high-tech industry vertical in which RocketPower specializes reduced or eliminated their full-time hiring, reducing demand for RocketPower’s services, and on-going economic uncertainty has more broadly impacted the growth in demand for Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) in the near-term. These changes in market conditions therefore caused a triggering event requiring an interim impairment test for goodwill. Based on the result of management’s interim goodwill impairment test as of third quarter 2022, management recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $30.7 million to write off a portion of RocketPower’s goodwill. Management determined the fair value of the RocketPower reporting unit using 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. Management’s analysis used the following significant assumptions: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the goodwill impairment assessment of the RocketPower reporting unit is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when developing the fair value estimate of the reporting unit; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate; 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 management’s goodwill impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of theRocketPower reporting unit. These procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the reporting unit; (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the income approach; (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the model; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins, and discount rate. Evaluating management’s assumptions related to expected future revenue growth rates and profit margins involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the reporting unit; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in the evaluation of the Company’s income approach and the discount rate significant assumption.

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

45

retains an independent consulting actuary to establish loss development factors and loss rates, 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 1, 2023, the accrual for accrued workers’ compensation, net of related receivables, is $43.3 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 loss rates; 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 management’s accrual for workers’ compensation claims, including controls over the actuarial methods and development of significant assumptions. These procedures also included, among others (i) the involvement of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in developing an independent estimate for the accrual for workers’ compensation claims and (ii) comparing the independent estimate to management’s estimate to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimate. Developing the independent estimate involved (i) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data provided by management; (ii) evaluating management’s actuarial methods and significant assumptions related to the loss development factors and loss rates; and (iii) independently developing the loss development factors and loss rates and actuarial methods used.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 16, 2023

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

46

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(In millions of dollars except per share items)

Selling, general and administrative expenses 943.5 870.6 805.6

Goodwill impairment charge 41.0 — 147.7

Gain on sale of assets (6.2) — (32.1)

Loss on disposal 18.7 — —

Earnings (loss) from operations 14.8 48.6 (93.6)

Gain (loss) on investment in Persol Holdings (67.2) 121.8 (16.6)

Gain on insurance settlement — 19.0 —

Loss on currency translation from liquidation of subsidiary (20.4) — —

Other income (expense), net 1.6 (3.6) 3.4

Income tax expense (benefit) (7.9) 35.1 (34.0)

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

Basic earnings (loss) per share $ (1.64) $ 3.93 $ (1.83)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ (1.64) $ 3.91 $ (1.83)

Average shares outstanding (millions):

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

47

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions of dollars)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments 17.6 (24.2) 12.4

Less: Reclassification adjustments included in net earnings 0.1 0.2 0.1

Pension liability adjustments 1.6 0.7 (0.8)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 19.2 (23.5) 11.6

Comprehensive income (loss) $ (43.3) $ 132.6 $ (60.4)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

48

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Assets

Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 69.9 52.8

Noncurrent Assets

Property and equipment:

Net property and equipment 27.8 35.3

Operating lease right-of-use assets 66.8 75.8

Investment in Persol Holdings — 264.3

Investment in equity affiliate — 123.4

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

49

KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions of dollars)

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current Liabilities

Short-term borrowings $ 0.7 $ —

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 723.3 687.2

Operating lease liabilities 14.7 17.5

Accrued payroll and related taxes 315.8 318.4

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 22.9 20.8

Income and other taxes 51.4 51.3

Noncurrent Liabilities

Operating lease liabilities 55.0 61.4

Accrued payroll and related taxes — 57.6

Accrued workers' compensation and other claims 40.7 37.0

Other long-term liabilities 11.0 86.8

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) (8.5) (27.7)

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 2,663.8 $ 2,894.2

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

50

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 $ 36.7 $ 36.6

Conversions from Class B — — 0.1

Share retirement (1.6) — —

Class B common stock

Balance at beginning of year 3.4 3.4 3.5

Conversions to Class A — — (0.1)

Balance at end of year 3.4 3.4 3.4

Treasury Stock

Class A common stock

Balance at beginning of year (14.5) (16.5) (20.3)

Net issuance of stock awards 2.8 2.0 3.8

Purchase of treasury stock (7.8) — —

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 4.1 2.6 (1.2)

Earnings Invested in the Business

Share retirement (25.6) — —

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

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

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 19.2 (23.5) 11.6

Balance at end of year (8.5) (27.7) (4.2)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

51

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 41.0 — 147.7

Loss on disposal 18.7 — —

Operating lease asset amortization 18.5 21.2 21.1

Provision for credit losses and sales allowances 1.5 1.6 12.8

Stock-based compensation 7.8 5.1 3.9

(Gain) loss on investment in Persol Holdings 67.2 (121.8) 16.6

Loss on cumulative translation adjustment reversal 20.4 — —

Gain on foreign currency remeasurement (5.5) — —

Gain on insurance settlement — (19.0) —

Gain on sale of assets (6.2) — (32.1)

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

Net cash (used in) from operating activities (76.3) 85.0 186.0

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from sale of assets 10.1 — 55.5

Acquisition of companies, net of cash received (143.1) (213.0) (39.2)

Cash disposed from sale of Russia, net of proceeds (6.0) — —

Proceeds from sale of Persol Holdings investment 196.9 — —

Proceeds from sale of equity method investment 119.5 — —

Proceeds from company-owned life insurance 1.5 12.2 2.3

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

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

Other investing activities 0.6 1.4 0.1

Net cash from (used in) investing activities 167.5 (180.7) 9.8

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net change in short-term borrowings 0.8 (0.2) (1.7)

Financing lease payments (1.4) (1.5) (2.0)

Dividend payments (10.6) (4.0) (3.0)

Payments of tax withholding for stock awards (0.9) (0.6) (1.2)

Buyback of common shares (27.2) — —

Purchase of treasury stock (7.8) — —

Contingent consideration payments (3.3) (1.6) —

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

Net cash used in financing activities (50.6) (8.1) (8.1)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 42.9 (108.6) 197.1

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

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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 0.1 0.2 —

Noncurrent assets:

Restricted cash included in other assets 8.6 6.6 5.1

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

53

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 1, 2023 (2022, which contained 52 weeks), January 2, 2022 (2021, which contained 52 weeks) and January 3, 2021 (2020, which contained 53 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. was accounted for on a one-quarter lag prior to the sale of the majority of the investment in the first quarter of 2022 (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 previous investment in Persol Holdings, as further described in the Investment in Persol Holdings footnote, was carried at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net earnings. The fair value of the investment was based on the quoted market price until the sale of the investment in the first quarter of 2022.

Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. The Company had a 49% ownership interest in its equity affiliate, PersolKelly Pte. Ltd., which was accounted for under the equity method. The operating results of the equity affiliate were recorded on a one-quarter lag and included in equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliate in the consolidated statements of earnings, until the Company sold the majority of the investment in the first quarter of 2022 (see Investment in PersolKelly Pte. Ltd. footnote). The remaining investment is accounted for as an equity investment without a readily determinable fair value (see Fair Value Measurements footnote).

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 primarily responsible to our customers for fulfilling the contractual promise to provide the service. When Kelly does not demonstrate control over the service, which may be evident through the arrangement of other contingent labor suppliers and/or service providers to perform services for the customer or by Kelly not holding primary responsibility for the fulfillment of the contractual promise to provide services to the customer, 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 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.

54

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 Solutions 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

55

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 $6.4 million in 2022, $7.5 million in 2021 and $8.1 million in 2020.

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, 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 3.0 0.3 —

Buildings and improvements 0.4 12.9 15 to 40 years

Computer hardware and software 126.8 147.9 3 to 12 years

Equipment, furniture and fixtures 22.7 26.6 5 years

Leasehold improvements 13.9 17.4 HQ: 15 years

Branches: Lesser of the lease or 5 years

Total property and equipment $ 166.8 $ 205.1

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 Standards Codification (“ASC”). Work in process represents capitalized costs for internal-use software not yet in service. Depreciation expense was $13.6 million for 2022, $16.4 million for 2021 and $16.8 million for 2020.

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KELLY SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

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 $4.2 million for 2022, $2.2 million for 2021, and $1.0 million for 2020. The related accumulated amortization totaled $7.3 million in 2022 and $3.2 million in 2021. Capitalized amounts related to such arrangements are recorded within prepaid and other current assets and non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. As of year-end 2022 and 2021, the Company had $2.7 million recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet and $21.0 million and $13.9 million, respectively, recorded in non-current other assets in the consolidated balance sheet 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 5 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.

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. The step zero test includes 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. 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

57

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.

For the step one quantitative test, we determine the fair value of our reporting units using the 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 the following significant assumptions: expected future revenue growth rates, profit margins and discount rate.

Prior to the sale of the majority of our investment in our equity affiliate, we evaluated our equity method investment on a quarterly basis or whenever events or circumstances indicated the carrying amount may be other-than-temporarily impaired. If we had concluded that there was an other-than-temporary impairment of our equity method investment, we would have adjusted 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 balances are book overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit. Such amounts totaled $0.4 million and $5.4 million at year-end 2022 and 2021, 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 $67.6 million and $39.1 million at year-end 2022 and 2021, respectively. Payroll taxes for temporary employees are recognized proportionately to direct wages for interim periods based on expected full-year amounts. Included in 2021 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.

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.

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 of the Company's Class A stock to key employees. 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 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.

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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 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 and loss rates, 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.

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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 8.4 5.0 0.5

Outsourcing & Consulting

International

Total Intersegment (2.6) (0.9) (0.5)

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Revenue Disaggregated by Geography

Our operations are subject to different economic and regulatory environments depending on geographic location. Our P&I and Education segments operate in the Americas region, our SET segment operates in the Americas and Europe regions, and OCG operates in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions. The International segment includes Europe and our Brazil and Mexico operations, which are included in the Americas region. Our Russian operations were sold in the third quarter of 2022 and our Brazil operations were sold in August 2020 (see Acquisitions and Dispositions footnote).

The below table presents our revenues disaggregated by geography (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Americas

Europe

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The below table presents our SET, OCG and International segment revenues disaggregated by geographic region (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Science, Engineering & Technology

Outsourcing & Consulting

International

Deferred Costs

Deferred fulfillment costs, which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet, were $2.7 million as of year-end 2022 and $1.3 million as of 2021. Amortization expense for the deferred costs was $10.1 million for 2022, $20.5 million for 2021 and $21.5 million for 2020. As of year-end 2022, there was no impairment loss in relation to the costs capitalized.

3. Credit Losses

The rollforward of our allowance for credit losses related to trade accounts receivable, which is recorded in trade accounts receivable, less allowance in the consolidated balance sheet, is as follows (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Allowance for credit losses:

Beginning balance $ 9.4 $ 9.8 $ 9.7

Impact of adopting ASC 326 — — 0.3

Current period provision 1.3 1.3 2.0

Currency exchange effects (0.2) (0.5) 0.1

Ending balance $ 7.7 $ 9.4 $ 9.8

Write-offs are presented net of recoveries, which were not material for December year to date 2022, 2021 and 2020.

We were engaged in litigation with a customer over a disputed accounts receivable balance for certain services rendered more than five years ago, which had been recorded as a long-term receivable in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. In September 2020, a ruling was issued in favor of the customer, which we appealed. Upon receiving the ruling, we increased our allowance for credit losses by $9.2 million in the third quarter of 2020 to reflect the likelihood of collection, which was recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. The related allowance for credit losses on this long-term customer receivable was $10.9 million as of year-end 2020 and represented the likelihood of collection. In September 2021, a final

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ruling in the case was entered in favor of the customer. As a result, in the third quarter of 2021, we wrote off the entire receivable balance with this customer, including $0.6 million not previously reserved. The unreserved portion was recorded in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings. The rollforward of our allowance for credit losses related to the long-term customer receivable, which was recorded in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet, is as follows (in millions of dollars):

December Year to Date

Allowance for credit losses:

Beginning balance $ 10.9 $ 1.0

Impact of adopting ASC 326 — 0.7

Current period provision 0.6 9.5

Currency exchange effects — (0.3)

Write-offs (11.5) —

Ending Balance $ — $ 10.9

There were no long-term customer receivables in 2022. No allowances related to other receivables were material for December year to date 2022, 2021 and 2020.