This post was originally published in July 2021 and updated with new recruiting statistics in February 2024.
Recruiting and hiring have gone through major changes in the past few years, and it’s unlikely they’re going to remain static anytime soon. It’s essential to stay in tune with the trends so you’re better equipped to attract, hire, and retain top talent, especially if your business is among the 57% that plan to increase hiring this year.
Keeping up with trends in recruitment and hiring, like the impact of utilizing software, is an important part of creating effective strategies. Staying informed also makes it easier to determine which software will best fit your needs and help recruiters and HR professionals remain competitive in a tough hiring landscape. Using new strategies and incorporating new technology not only aids recruitment and hiring but also contributes to higher retention among both new and tenured employees.
We’ve compiled these recruiting and hiring statistics to help you understand the current state of recruiting and the need for an outstanding candidate experience. Check out our list so you can keep your finger on the pulse, exceed candidate expectations, and create a focused, reliable strategy for recruiting the best talent on the market.
Recruitment Statistics for Attracting Top Talent
In today’s job market, unemployment is 3.7%, a near-record low, and hiring is picking up again —albeit slowly. Job growth is strong in sectors including healthcare, government, and leisure and hospitality. However, there has been an overall decline in job openings, a trend experts expect to continue throughout the year.
This year, recruiters are struggling to find talent with the right skills and beat the competition in the race to hire top candidates. Fewer employees plan to switch jobs this year, but those who are job-hunting will be harder to win over. We’re also seeing demographic shifts in the workforce as older workers retire later or rejoin the workforce after retirement.
Understanding what today’s job seekers are looking for — and who they are — will help you make the right changes to your approach to attracting qualified candidates.
- Almost three million people retired early as a result of the pandemic, but fewer young people are entering the workforce. People over 55 are expected to make up more than one-quarter of the workforce by 2031.1
- Candidates are five times more likely to click on a job posting that includes the pay range. More than 80% want to know the salary by the end of their first conversation with a recruiter.2
- Job seekers still want remote work opportunities. 40% of companies say they lost candidates during the recruitment process when they mentioned hybrid or in-person requirements.3
- Candidates named compensation, professional development, and better work-life balance as the top three factors they consider before accepting a new job.4
- 84% of candidates say a company’s reputation, or employer brand, influences whether or not they’ll apply.5
- Candidate ghosting is more common than ever. The top three reasons for ghosting were losing interest after learning more about the role, taking another job, and a hiring process that was too complicated.2
Recruiting Technology Statistics: ATS and AI
It’s no surprise that recruiters can quickly become overwhelmed when reviewing and screening dozens of applicants for an open role. Considering that corporate job postings receive around 250 applications on average, modern recruiters need the support of a comprehensive and analytical Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to create a more efficient process.
ATS software today is much different from the basic candidate databases they once were. The best ATS systems boast artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, task automation, and robust reporting and analytics. AI in particular has made a splash in recruiting and HR as a whole. It’s essential for
The research shows that recruiting teams reap many benefits from implementing an ATS and utilizing AI.
- 94% of recruiters say using an ATS has had a positive impact on their hiring process.6
- Two-thirds of employers say automating aspects of recruiting adds value and streamlines their processes.3
- 85% of employers who are using AI or automation say it saves time or improves efficiency.7
- 72% of companies say they’re investing in technology to recruit and retain employees.8
- Implementing technology, especially AI, is a top priority for HR teams for the third year in a row.9
- 76% of companies say recruiting automation freed up recruiters’ time to focus on more important tasks.3
Text-To-Apply Statistics
When it comes to recruiting strategy, text messaging is one of the most powerful tools in your toolkit. Text and mobile-friendly applications bring added flexibility and functionality to your hiring pipeline. Job seekers can easily apply to open positions with a text message or a few taps on their phone. Text-to-Apply tools also bring more visibility into the hiring process, giving job seekers more clarity about the state of their application.
The statistics show that utilizing mobile recruitment tools is much more effective at receiving a response than traditional methods. Text messaging is not only a great way to quickly communicate with candidates, but is also a great way to increase the likelihood of your recruitment message being opened in the first place.
- 97% of adults in the U.S. own a cell phone, and texts have a 98% open rate.10
- 89% of candidates prefer texts to emails.10
- Recruiters get 50% faster response rates with texts compared to emails.10
Get everything you need for a successful virtual hiring strategy with our Virtual Interview Toolkit for Recruiters.
Find the Best Tools for Your Recruiting Strategy
If you’re feeling the crunch when it comes to finding exceptional talent, you aren’t alone. Today’s recruiters need to meet candidates where they are to attract and hire top talent. These recruiting statistics also highlight the necessity of modern, flexible technology solutions for successful hiring strategies.
By expanding your recruiting strategies to utilize artificial intelligence (AI), social media platforms, online job boards, and mobile application tools, you can increase your talent pool and build a hiring pipeline that curates higher-quality candidates.
ClearCompany’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS) has everything you need to keep up with the demands of today’s hiring market. Our ATS is loaded with features to support recruiters, hiring managers, and the rest of your talent acquisition team at every step of the recruiting and hiring process:
- Manage job postings across a variety of job boards, plus get discounted rates
- Write job descriptions, job offer letters, and candidate emails faster than ever with AI assistance
- Personalize career sites to show off company culture and employer brand
- Streamline and standardize interviews with automated Interview Guides and Scorecards
- Investigate the effectiveness of your hiring process with advanced reporting tools
To learn more about our suite of recruiting tools, reach out to our team of experts. We’re standing by to help you transform your recruiting strategies.
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