Recruitment Statistics for 2025 (Now With Layoff Data): Insights Into Hiring, Retention, and Restructuring

Hiring the right talent is crucial, and recruitment strategies are rapidly evolving with the rise of hybrid work and advancements in tracking technologies. Explore our top picks for the best recruitment software to stay ahead in this competitive market:

How SaaSworthy Curates These Recruitment Insights

At SaaSworthy, we combine proprietary analytics with insights from leading industry research to bring you the most relevant and up-to-date recruitment statistics. Here’s how we do it:

• Product Usage Data: We analyze aggregated data from recruitment platforms listed on SaaSworthy, including user behavior, adoption trends, and feature-level engagement.

• Survey Data: We run and review surveys from HR professionals, recruiters, and job seekers to capture sentiment, challenges, and expectations.

• Social & Review Analysis: We monitor social platforms and verified reviews to surface qualitative insights into candidate experience, employer brand, and tool effectiveness.

• Trusted Industry Reports: We reference and synthesize data from globally respected sources like:

  • LinkedIn’s Future of Recruiting Report

  • SHRM’s State of the Workplace

  • Workable Hiring Pulse

  • Gartner HR Research

  • McKinsey’s Workforce of the Future reports

By layering platform data with third-party research, we ensure our insights are not just timely but actionable.

The State of Recruitment in 2025

1. 75% of recruiters believe hiring has become more competitive over the past year.
2. 60% of companies struggle to fill positions due to talent shortages.
3. 88% of job seekers say a positive hiring experience can change their perception of a company.
4. 76% of hiring managers admit that finding the right candidate takes longer than expected.
5. 55% of job seekers abandon applications that take too long to complete.
6. 61% of employers are increasing recruitment budgets in 2025.
7. 47% of companies are shifting to skills-first hiring models.
8. 68% of SMBs say hiring challenges are slowing business growth.
9. 33% of recruiters say ghosting by candidates has increased.
10. 72% of job ads now include salary transparency.

Candidate Experience and Hiring Process

1. 72% of candidates will share a negative experience online or with friends.
2. 60% of job seekers say they have quit an application due to technical issues.
3. 80% of job seekers expect personalized communication during hiring.
4. 50% of candidates decline job offers due to bad interview experiences.
5. 68% of candidates want a faster hiring process, with an ideal timeline of two weeks.
6. 63% of applicants want feedback even if not selected.
7. 54% of candidates feel ghosted by recruiters post-interview.
8. 70% of job seekers say mobile-optimized applications are a must.
9. 58% of candidates rate interview transparency as a top priority.
10. 49% of applicants say inconsistent communication affects trust.

Remote and Hybrid Hiring Trends

1. 58% of recruiters say remote work options make roles more attractive.
2. 75% of companies now conduct interviews via video calls.
3. 67% of candidates expect hybrid work opportunities in 2024.
4. 40% of employees would take a pay cut to keep working remotely.
5. 90% of businesses say they plan to maintain remote or hybrid work policies.
6. 38% of job listings now include a remote/hybrid tag.
7. 79% of global companies say remote hiring widened their talent pool.
8. 62% of recruiters say assessing remote work fit is a challenge.
9. 43% of employers use asynchronous interviews to scale remote hiring.
10. 59% of candidates expect flexibility in hours, not just location.

Employer Branding and Social Media Impact

1. 86% of job seekers research company reviews before applying.
2. 75% of candidates would not apply to a company with bad online reviews.
3. 69% of employers believe a strong social media presence attracts better candidates.
4. 56% of job seekers follow companies on LinkedIn before applying.
5. 85% of HR professionals say employer branding significantly impacts hiring success.
6. 64% of candidates say employer values matter more than salary.
7. 48% of job seekers discover openings through social media.
8. 59% of companies now run recruitment campaigns on Instagram.
9. 73% of Gen Z candidates value social media authenticity over polish.
10. 50% of job ads now feature employee testimonials.

AI and Technology in Recruitment

1. 65% of recruiters use AI-powered tools to speed up hiring.
2. 75% of candidates prefer chatbots for quick responses to job queries.
3. 80% of large companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) for hiring.
4. 48% of recruiters say AI has improved candidate quality.
5. 70% of hiring managers believe automation reduces bias in hiring decisions.
6. 51% of companies use AI to screen resumes.
7. 66% of recruiters say predictive analytics helps identify high performers.
8. 59% of employers are investing in recruitment automation platforms.
9. 77% of hiring teams use video interview AI scoring tools.
10. 43% of candidates say they’re unsure how AI affects their chances.

Diversity and Inclusion in Hiring

1. 78% of job seekers consider workplace diversity when choosing employers.
2. 42% of recruiters have diversity hiring quotas.
3. 60% of companies now use blind hiring techniques.
4. 57% of candidates expect inclusive workplace policies before accepting an offer.
5. 85% of businesses say diversity improves innovation and problem-solving.
6. 36% of companies tie leadership bonuses to DEI outcomes.
7. 50% of recruiters are trained in inclusive language.
8. 62% of job listings include DEI statements.
9. 71% of Gen Z consider DEI a dealbreaker in job decisions.
10. 44% of employers use AI to minimize unconscious bias in screening.

Salary and Benefits in Recruitment

1. 62% of candidates reject job offers due to unsatisfactory salaries.
2. 90% of job seekers value benefits like flexible work and wellness programs.
3. 45% of employees say health insurance is the most important benefit.
4. 80% of companies now offer mental health support as a perk.
5. 55% of professionals would switch jobs for better retirement benefits.
6. 49% of job seekers expect salary ranges in job posts.
7. 66% of employers offer upskilling as a benefit.
8. 59% of candidates prefer four-day workweeks over higher salaries.
9. 75% of employees value PTO and vacation policy more post-COVID.
10. 52% of Gen Z say student loan assistance is a key perk.

Recruiter Challenges and Hiring Trends

1. 70% of recruiters say competition for top talent is the biggest challenge.
2. 50% of hiring managers struggle with high turnover rates.
3. 65% of recruiters believe skills-based hiring is the future.
4. 73% of employers now focus more on soft skills than technical skills.
5. 82% of recruiters say referrals are their best source of quality hires.
6. 44% of hiring teams face internal misalignment on job role needs.
7. 58% of recruiters say interview scheduling delays are common.
8. 69% of companies struggle with post-offer dropouts.
9. 31% of recruiters say talent pipelines are underdeveloped.
10. 79% of companies are experimenting with gig-based or fractional hiring.

Time to Hire and Cost of Hiring

1. 42 days is the average time to fill a job vacancy.
2. $4,700 is the average cost per hire in the U.S.
3. 25% of companies report hiring delays due to slow decision-making.
4. 50% of businesses say reducing time-to-hire is a priority in 2024.
5. 20% of candidates drop out if the hiring process takes more than four weeks.
6. 39% of HR leaders are using AI to cut time-to-hire.
7. 67% of companies say hiring timelines affect offer acceptance rates.
8. 41% of firms outsource recruiting to reduce cost-per-hire.
9. 53% of companies say internal approval bottlenecks slow hiring.
10. 32% of roles remain unfilled for 3+ months in tech industries.

The Future of Recruitment

1. 85% of jobs in 2030 don’t exist yet, requiring new hiring strategies.
2. 92% of recruiters believe upskilling employees is critical to talent retention.
3. 67% of hiring managers think recruitment will become fully digital by 2030.
4. 58% of Gen Z job seekers prefer TikTok and Instagram for job searching.
5. 93% of employees say company culture is just as important as salary.
6. 61% of companies plan to integrate VR/AR in hiring processes.
7. 48% of recruiters say generative AI will drive resume personalization.
8. 72% of HR departments are investing in lifelong learning platforms.
9. 34% of jobs will rely more on digital portfolios than resumes.
10. 69% of leaders believe recruitment will merge with marketing by 2030.

Layoffs and Workforce Restructuring Trends

While recruitment remains a priority, many industries are also navigating layoffs and workforce restructuring in 2025. Economic uncertainty, automation, and shifting business models have made workforce planning more volatile than ever.

1. 68% of tech companies implemented at least one round of layoffs since 2023.
2. 45% of laid-off employees find new roles within 3 months.
3. 62% of companies say layoffs were driven by automation or AI-related restructuring.
4. 54% of HR leaders are investing in outplacement services to support affected employees.
5. 71% of employees say transparency during layoffs influences their perception of employer brand.
6. 38% of companies cite over-hiring during the pandemic as a cause of recent cuts.
7. 59% of professionals now consider job stability more important than compensation.
8. 40% of laid-off employees turn to freelancing or gig work post-separation.
9. 65% of organizations conduct workforce planning every quarter (up from 42% in 2022).
10. 52% of HR departments say managing morale post-layoff is their biggest challenge.

Key Takeaway

The recruitment landscape is rapidly evolving due to hybrid work models, emerging technologies, and an increasing talent shortage. To stay ahead, companies must refine their hiring strategies, prioritize candidate experience, and leverage data-driven insights to attract and retain top talent.