Last updated: November 2, 2026. Pricing and program details were checked on provider sites, published comparisons, and industry data on this date. Disclosure: brigenai offers its own career tools and consultations. We left them out of this ranking, and no provider paid to be included.
US employers announced more than 1.2 million job cuts in 2025, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, and many of those layoffs came with outplacement: career coaching and job search support paid for by the employer. Done well, it shortens the time people spend out of work and protects the company's reputation. Done badly, it is a login to a job board that nobody uses.
We compared the outplacement providers US employers are most likely to consider, plus one free public option, on coaching quality, pricing transparency, tools and outcomes, scale, and track record. Eight made the cut. This guide is for HR teams choosing a provider and for laid-off employees who want to know what to ask for.
Quick comparison
| Provider | Our score | Best for | Pricing | Coaching model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randstad RiseSmart | 4.5 | Mid-market and enterprise layoffs with a clear budget | Published tiers from $499 per person | Coach plus dedicated job sourcing support |
| Careerminds | 4.1 | Virtual outplacement that runs until people land | About $1,000 to $5,000 per person (estimated range) | Virtual coaching with until-placement options |
| State Rapid Response and public career centers | 4.1 | Small employers and tight budgets | Free | Group sessions, job search help, retraining funds |
| LHH | 3.9 | Large, multi-country workforce reductions | Custom quote | Career coaches plus the Career Studio platform |
| INTOO | 3.9 | Employees who want frequent, on-demand coaching | Custom quote | Unlimited one-on-one coaching, seven days a week |
| Challenger, Gray & Christmas | 3.9 | Executive and senior leader transitions | Custom quote | Dedicated senior coaches |
| IMPACT Group | 3.8 | Whole-person support with quality-controlled coaching | Custom quote | Rated, monitored coaches |
| VelvetJobs | 3.7 | Small businesses on a tight budget | From about $500 per person | Lower-cost virtual support |
How we ranked these providers
We started with the providers most often compared by US buyers, checked published pricing and program details, and added a free public option that many employers overlook.
| Criterion | Weight | What we checked |
|---|---|---|
| Coaching quality | 25% | One-on-one coaching, coach experience, and program length |
| Pricing and value | 25% | Published pricing and what is included at each level |
| Tools and outcomes | 20% | Job leads, technology, and published results |
| Scale and coverage | 15% | Ability to support large or multi-location layoffs |
| Track record | 15% | Years in operation and reputation |
| Provider | Coaching | Pricing | Outcomes | Scale | Track record | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randstad RiseSmart | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Careerminds | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.1 |
| Rapid Response and public centers | 3 | 5 | 3.5 | 4 | 5 | 4.1 |
| LHH | 4 | 2.5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3.9 |
| INTOO | 4.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Challenger, Gray & Christmas | 4.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3.9 |
| IMPACT Group | 4.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
| VelvetJobs | 3 | 5 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
What outplacement includes, and what it costs
Outplacement is career transition support that an employer buys for people it lays off, usually as part of a severance package. Most programs include some mix of one-on-one career coaching, résumé and LinkedIn help, job search tools and job leads, interview practice, and sometimes help exploring a career change.
How providers price it:
| Pricing model | How it works | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Per employee | A fixed fee per person, often tiered by seniority | Most layoffs |
| Program bundle | A flat fee for a defined group | Smaller reductions |
| Until placement | Support continues until the person lands a job | Senior roles; costs more |
IBISWorld puts the 2026 US benchmark price at about $1,660 per employee. Executive programs can cost many times that.
If you are the employee: ask HR which provider you have, how long your access lasts, and whether coaching is one-on-one. Start using it in the first week, while your network still knows you are looking. If your role was cut because of AI or automation, use your coaching sessions to explore whether to move into a more AI-resilient field, not just a similar job. brigenai's AI Risk Assessment can help you check how exposed a target role is.
The 8 best outplacement services, reviewed
1. Randstad RiseSmart
[SCREENSHOT: Randstad RiseSmart outplacement page. Alt text: "Randstad RiseSmart outplacement services pricing"]
Randstad RiseSmart is the career transition business of Randstad, one of the world's largest staffing companies. It pairs career coaches with job sourcing support and technology, and it is one of the few enterprise providers that publishes tiered pricing, starting at $499 per person.
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Highlight: Enterprise-grade outplacement with published, tiered pricing.
Pros
- Published price tiers make budgeting easy
- Coaching plus dedicated job sourcing
- Supports both small exits and large reductions
- Strong reviews on Gartner Peer Insights
Cons
- Lower tiers include less one-on-one coaching
- Published tier details vary between sources, so confirm current pricing
- Tech-heavy approach may not suit every employee
Best for: Mid-sized and large employers that want predictable costs.
Target region: Global
Pricing: Published tiers starting at $499 per person, with higher tiers for more coaching and support.
Conclusion: The best all-round choice for most employers, especially when budget clarity matters.
Official site: randstad.com
2. Careerminds
[SCREENSHOT: Careerminds outplacement page. Alt text: "Careerminds virtual outplacement services"]
Careerminds is a virtual outplacement provider known for transparent pricing guidance and programs that can run until the person finds a new job. In early 2026 it expanded by acquiring Keystone Partners, Renovo, and other firms.
Rating: 4.1 / 5
Highlight: Virtual coaching with until-placement options.
Pros
- Until-placement programs available
- Publishes pricing guidance, unlike many enterprise providers
- Fully virtual, so it works for distributed teams
- Growing global footprint after recent acquisitions
Cons
- Virtual-only may not suit people who want in-person meetings
- Recent acquisitions raise integration questions
- Exact pricing still requires a quote
Best for: Employers with remote or distributed teams.
Target region: Global (virtual)
Pricing: About $1,000 to $5,000 per person, according to published comparisons; request a quote.
Conclusion: A strong choice if you want support that lasts until people land.
Official site: careerminds.com
3. State Rapid Response and public career centers
[SCREENSHOT: A state public career center outplacement page. Alt text: "Free public outplacement services for employers"]
Every state runs Rapid Response services through its public workforce system to help employers and workers during layoffs. Public career centers, such as MassHire in Massachusetts, offer outplacement-style support for employers that are downsizing, often including on-site or virtual information sessions, job search help, unemployment guidance, and access to retraining funds.
Rating: 4.1 / 5
Highlight: Free support that also connects workers to government-funded retraining.
Pros
- Free to employers and workers
- Available in every state
- Connects people to WIOA retraining funds
- Good complement to a paid provider
Cons
- Less personalized than paid one-on-one coaching
- Quality varies by state and region
- Fewer digital tools than private providers
Best for: Small employers, nonprofits, and anyone without an outplacement budget.
Target region: United States
Pricing: Free.
Conclusion: Every employer planning a layoff should call its state Rapid Response team, even if it also hires a private provider.
Official site: Find your local center on CareerOneStop
4. LHH
[SCREENSHOT: LHH outplacement page. Alt text: "LHH career transition and outplacement"]
LHH, formerly Lee Hecht Harrison, is part of The Adecco Group and one of the largest outplacement providers in the world, operating in more than 60 countries. Participants get career coaching and access to LHH Career Studio, a platform with job search tools and resources.
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Highlight: Unmatched global scale for complex, multi-country layoffs.
Pros
- Operates in more than 60 countries
- Large coach network
- Career Studio platform with tools and events
- Trusted by many large companies
Cons
- No published pricing
- Generally one of the more expensive options
- Experience can vary across a very large network
Best for: Large employers with layoffs across several countries.
Target region: Global
Pricing: Custom quote.
Conclusion: The safest choice for global scale, if budget allows.
Official site: lhh.com
5. INTOO
[SCREENSHOT: INTOO outplacement page. Alt text: "INTOO outplacement unlimited career coaching"]
INTOO, part of Gi Group, offers outplacement built around unlimited one-on-one coaching available seven days a week, plus a digital job search platform.
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Highlight: Unlimited, on-demand one-on-one coaching.
Pros
- Unlimited coaching sessions
- Coaching available seven days a week
- Global reach through Gi Group
- Positive reviews from laid-off employees
Cons
- No published pricing
- The volume of tools can feel overwhelming
- Custom quotes add negotiation time
Best for: Employers who want employees to get as much coaching as they need.
Target region: Global
Pricing: Custom quote.
Conclusion: Great for coaching-heavy support; ask for detailed pricing early.
Official site: intoo.com
6. Challenger, Gray & Christmas
[SCREENSHOT: Challenger, Gray & Christmas outplacement page. Alt text: "Challenger Gray and Christmas executive outplacement"]
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, founded in Chicago in 1966, is often credited as the first outplacement firm in the US. It is also known for its widely cited monthly reports on US job cuts. Its programs are especially strong for executive and senior transitions.
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Highlight: Decades of executive outplacement experience.
Pros
- One of the longest-running firms in the industry
- Strong executive and senior-level coaching
- Respected brand
- Deep labor market insight
Cons
- No published pricing
- Less focused on low-cost, high-volume programs
- Fewer digital tools than tech-first providers
Best for: Executive and senior leader transitions.
Target region: United States and international
Pricing: Custom quote.
Conclusion: A top choice for leadership exits where personal attention matters most.
Official site: challengergray.com
7. IMPACT Group
[SCREENSHOT: IMPACT Group outplacement page. Alt text: "IMPACT Group outplacement and career transition"]
IMPACT Group offers outplacement with a whole-person approach and says it rates each coach's performance with every employee client as a quality control measure.
Rating: 3.8 / 5
Highlight: Quality-controlled coaching with attention to the emotional side of job loss.
Pros
- Coach performance is rated and monitored
- Whole-person, compassionate approach
- Local outplacement pages for many US cities
- Long-standing provider
Cons
- No published pricing
- Smaller global footprint than LHH
- Fewer independent reviews to compare
Best for: Employers who prioritize the employee experience.
Target region: United States and global delivery
Pricing: Custom quote.
Conclusion: A thoughtful option if coaching quality matters more than scale.
Official site: impactgrouphr.com
8. VelvetJobs
[SCREENSHOT: VelvetJobs outplacement page. Alt text: "VelvetJobs affordable outplacement services"]
VelvetJobs is a lower-cost outplacement provider with published entry pricing from about $500 per person, making it one of the easiest options for small businesses to budget.
Rating: 3.7 / 5
Highlight: The most affordable paid outplacement on this list.
Pros
- Published entry pricing
- Affordable for small businesses
- Simple to buy
- Virtual delivery
Cons
- Less coaching depth than premium providers
- Mainly US-focused
- Smaller company than enterprise providers
Best for: Small businesses that want to offer something meaningful on a tight budget.
Target region: United States
Pricing: From about $500 per person.
Conclusion: A sensible budget option, especially paired with your state's free Rapid Response services.
Official site: velvetjobs.com
Which outplacement service should you choose?
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want predictable pricing at scale | Randstad RiseSmart | Published tiers from $499 per person |
| Your team is remote or distributed | Careerminds | Virtual, with until-placement options |
| You have little or no budget | State Rapid Response | Free, with retraining funds for workers |
| You are laying off people in several countries | LHH | Operations in more than 60 countries |
| You want employees to get as much coaching as they need | INTOO | Unlimited one-on-one coaching |
| You are exiting senior leaders | Challenger, Gray & Christmas | Long-standing executive specialists |
| You prioritize the employee experience | IMPACT Group | Rated, quality-controlled coaching |
| You are a small business on a budget | VelvetJobs | From about $500 per person |
Whatever you choose, ask every provider the same questions: how many one-on-one coaching hours each person gets, how long access lasts, what results they track, and whether they help people explore new careers as well as find similar jobs. And call your state Rapid Response team either way; it costs nothing and connects workers to retraining funds.
If you are an employee who was just laid off, see our guide to career counseling services for mid-career changers and our list of free online courses with certificates. brigenai's Path Simulator can also help you test a new career before you commit.
FAQ
What are outplacement services?
Outplacement services are career transition support that employers provide to laid-off employees, usually including career coaching, résumé help, job search tools, and interview practice. The employer pays, and the departing employee receives the support.
How much do outplacement services cost?
IBISWorld puts the 2026 US benchmark at about $1,660 per employee. On this list, published entry prices start around $499 to $500 per person, while executive programs can cost many thousands.
Is outplacement worth it for employers?
Often, yes. It can shorten the time former employees spend out of work, protect your employer brand, and support the employees who stay. Even small employers can offer something through free state Rapid Response services or low-cost providers.
Can I get outplacement if my employer does not offer it?
You can use free public career centers and Rapid Response services, and some providers, such as LHH, sell programs directly to individuals. A career counselor or coach is another option.
How long does outplacement last?
It depends on the package. Many programs last one to six months, executive programs can run longer, and some providers offer support until the person finds a new job.
Sources and how we checked
We checked every page below on November 2, 2026. Sources already linked in the article above are not repeated here.
- FirstHR: outplacement services compared (2025 job cuts, published entry pricing)
- Work Club: best outplacement services for 2026 (RiseSmart tiers, INTOO coaching model, Careerminds acquisitions)
- IBISWorld: outplacement services procurement (2026 benchmark price)
- Careerminds: top outplacement firms (LHH coverage, Challenger history; note this source is a competing provider)
- IGotAnOffer: best outplacement coaching services (Gartner ratings)
- IMPACT Group: best outplacement firms (coach quality control; note this source is the provider itself)
