HR professionals who want to hire and retain top talent need to keep an eye on the latest recruitment trends. That’s why agile teams look for data-driven insights and recruitment statistics to improve their hiring processes.
We’ve done the hard work by gathering up-to-date recruitment data and analyzing trends that shape the hiring landscape. Keep reading to see some of the latest recruitment stats that can help consolidate your hiring strategy.
General recruitment statistics
First up, let’s have a look at the big picture. These general statistics focus on key hiring metrics and common industry challenges.
1. The annual revenue of the global staffing industry is nearly $600 billion (Statista)Â
The industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2022 to 2030.
2. More than 80% of hiring managers say it’s challenging to find the talent they need (Robert Half)Â
In addition, more than 50% of HR professionals say they struggle to hire their top choices before their competitors.
3. Most workers (49%) leave their employers due to the lack of career growth opportunities (Queros)
Low pay and benefits (44%) and poor work-life balance (43%) are also common reasons for quitting.
4. More than 50% percent of currently employed workers say they are actively searching for a new job (Clevry)
This figure clearly points out the importance of employee retention strategies. If you want to keep the best workers, you need to provide growth opportunities and create a healthy company culture.
5. Over 80% of candidates prefer having a clear timeline for the hiring process (RecruitCRM)
It’s easy to draw the conclusion here — transparency and timely communication are a must in order to keep candidates engaged and reduce frustration during the hiring process.
Candidate experience stats
The way you take care of a candidate’s experience can make or break the hiring process. In this section, we’ll show a few stats that reveal what job applicants really expect from HR managers.
6. Only 26% of job seekers in the US say they had a great candidate experience (JobScore)Â
61% of candidates said they had neutral experiences. However, 13% of them had such bad experiences that they’re less likely to apply again, refer others, or make purchases from the company.
7. Four out of five candidates would not consider other relevant job listings if a company doesn’t notify them of their outcome (Starred)
On the other hand, candidates who are notified of their outcome are 3.5 times more likely to reapply to a different position with the same company.
8. According to the report, 40% of job seekers would expect it to take no longer than 6 days after applying for a job to arrange an interview (Cronofy)
The same percentage of candidates say that the lack of communication is the most frustrating part of the recruitment process.
9. More than 60% of candidates want to see compensation shared in a job description (Devin Raposo)
Upfront transparency about pay is often a key factor in attracting candidates and building trust from the start.
10. 54% of candidates have walked away from a job due to poor communication (Criteriacorp)
As much as 39% of candidates also report being ghosted in the previous 12 months.
Recruitment software statistics
Modern recruitment is practically impossible without technology. The following stats explore how companies use tools like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and other software solutions.
11. The recruitment software market is projected to reach slightly over $3 billion in 2024 (Yahoo Finance)
At the same time, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% until 2031 and reach $5.58 billion.
12. The top 10 vendors hold 52.4% of the entire market share (Appsruntheworld)Â
Microsoft is the leading provider in the recruitment software sector (7.5%), followed by First Advantage, Sterling Talent Solutions, SAP, and Checkr.
13. Reports reveal that almost all Fortune 500 companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (RecruitCRM)
ATS plays a major role in managing large-scale recruitment. Companies that use these platforms can streamline processes and make sure that the best candidates don’t slip through the cracks.
14. More than 90% of ATS users claim that this system helped them improve the hiring process (Select Software Reviews)
On the other hand, studies show that three-quarters of qualified candidates get rejected by ATS due to keyword mismatches or failure to meet specific criteria set in the job description.
15. The best candidates in any profession spend an average of just 10 days on the job market (SmartSearchInc)
Speed and efficiency are obviously critical in attracting the best candidates. Without ATS or streamlined hiring processes, employers risk missing out on top talent who move quickly through the job market.
Sector-specific insights
Different industries face unique recruitment challenges. This section explores hiring trends, in-demand skills, and other important benchmarks across high-growth sectors like tech, healthcare, and education.
16. There will be about 1.9 million healthcare job openings in the US every year in the next decade (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)Â
The overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.
17. The growth of US-based IT jobs will be strong in roles such as information security analysts (+33%) and software developers (+17%) (Techopedia)
On the downside, more traditional roles like computer programmers will be declining in the years to come (-10%), mainly due to automation and outsourcing.
18. The World Economic Forum expects jobs in the education sector to grow by about 10% over the next five years (World Economic Forum)
This should lead to approximately 2.2 million additional jobs for vocational education teachers and university and higher education teachers.
19. The global talent shortage in the healthcare and life sciences vertical amounts to 77% (ManpowerGroup)
However, many researchers claim that labor shortages are being driven by low wages and working conditions.
20. Another report says that 87% of businesses are either facing a skills shortage or expect to do so in the next five years (3DS)Â
Manufacturing industries in particular are struggling to make themselves seem attractive to the next generation compared to high-paying (and more glamorous) roles in technology.
Emerging trends in the recruiting and hiring process
These statistics focus on emerging trends such as remote work, gig economy growth, and the preferences of younger generations entering the workforce.
21. 70% of job seekers use their mobile phones to search for jobs (Workassist)
In addition, the same portion of candidates believe that the application process will soon be so standardized that one click or swipe via smartphone will be sufficient to apply for a job.
22. The vast majority of HR professionals (85%) think that the most important skill in the next five years will be to engage passive candidates (Greg Lewis)Â
More than 80% of them also believe that it will be necessary to analyze data in order to make good hiring decisions.
23. The employment of HR managers in the US is projected to grow by 6% until 2033, faster than the average for all occupations (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a lot of those openings come from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations.
24. Almost 50% of worker skills will be disrupted in the next five years (People Managing People)
Many HR professionals also believe that AI and technology adoption will cause the biggest disruption to the workforce in the next decade.
25. Over 60% of hiring managers believe flexible working increases motivation, while 75% of them think it’s great for productivity (Novoresume)
There seems to be a growing recognition of flexible work as a win-win because it increases both employee motivation and overall efficiency.
Make the most of recruiting statistics
Recruitment statistics are more than just numbers — they are practical tools that can guide your hiring strategy. Our suggestion is to use these insights to find opportunities for improvement, so you can stay ahead in the race for top talent. Whether you’re refining your candidate experience, or testing recruitment software, the right data can assist you in attracting the best people for your team.
