2025 Recruiting Trends: What HR Teams Need to Know

New recruiting trends are always emerging and bringing significant transformation to the world of work. The dynamics of the job market, technology, and societal changes are shaping the way organizations attract, select, and retain talent. Human Resources (HR) teams play a pivotal role in adapting to these changes and staying ahead in the competitive world of talent acquisition.

Learn how small businesses are finding top talent and how job seekers are looking for a company that caters to their specific needs using 2025 recruitment trends.

1. Hiring Processes Change as Remote and Hybrid Environments Dominate

For many businesses across the world, remote environments are the new normal. However, the idea of remote is shifting; it is no longer limited to just working from home but also includes a hybrid environment. This changes how recruiters look for talent. That means they will not just rely on the traditional modes of recruiting talents but will adopt a remote-first approach.

Additionally, although many businesses are pushing for a return to office, or at least a hybrid environment, recruiting still remains a vastly remote process. Although the pandemic and advances in recruiting software have made it easier for companies, even small businesses, to locate and hire quality talent all over the globe, this landscape could change as companies may be looking for individuals who live within a certain geographic location to their offices.

Virtual Recruiting

Based on data collected through iHire’s 2024 State of Online Recruiting Report, almost half of all employers surveyed either perform some (20%), most (42.5%), or all (25.6%) of their hiring online through online job boards and recruiting platforms.

The survey went on to say that the four most important factors in choosing the right job board are the ability to message candidates through the job board, pre-screening questions, applicant skills assessments, and interview scheduling.

Employers use other forms of virtual recruiting as well, such as social media, company career pages, and school networks.

Percentage of companies that use different methods of recruiting. (Source: iHire)

For small businesses that may be on a limited budget, I suggest using resources that are readily available for recruiting, such as social media. A quick video on platforms like Facebook and TikTok can showcase your business and announce you are hiring. Be sure to include a way to apply and whether it requires in-person work or if remote is an option.

Social Recruiting

Social media/social recruiting software is becoming more prevalent for screening, with a whopping 98% of employers using it to research potential job candidates. Aside from traditional sources for finding talent, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat have become powerful platforms for companies to build their brands and look for talent, especially Gen Z applicants.

Job seekers typically use social media sites to learn about a company. The top sites employees and candidates visit to review employer brand and reputation are Facebook, LinkedIn, and employer review sites, like Glassdoor. Learn more social recruiting tips in our guide.

2. Data and Analytics Remain Critical to Recruiting Efforts While AI Faces Increasing Scrutiny

Data and analytics will continue to play an important role in the recruiting process in 2025. This is due to a number of factors, including the availability of data, the increasing sophistication of analytics tools, and the growing demand for data-driven decision-making.

AI will be more intuitive when choosing who the best fit is—so much so that companies may favor using these than humans for recruiting. However, there is continuing scrutiny around artificial intelligence and its true impact on hiring. For example, AI can disqualify otherwise qualified candidates because it didn’t find specific keywords listed in resumes.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics can help organizations with determining recruitment budgets, assessing an applicant, and forecasting future hiring needs—and at the center of this is machine learning. Using AI technology, hiring managers can make more accurate predictions based on the data (both historical and current) from different channels, like resumes, HRMS, job descriptions, and social media accounts of applicants.

In fact, according to a 2024 Mercer Global Talent Trends Report, 80% of jobs are likely to be affected by some form of augmented or generative AI. On top of that, a further 19% of jobs will see 50% of their tasks handled by AI.

Some of the things machine learning can analyze are cultural fit, skills to do the job, ability to stay engaged, or even how long the candidate is most likely to stay in the company. Tech giants like Google, have been using it to screen resumes, identify qualified candidates, and predict candidate fit. Google has also developed tools that use machine learning to help recruiters write effective job postings and interview candidates.

Artificial Intelligence

While artificial intelligence has been around for quite some time (first coined in 1956 and became popular in the early 2000s) it has grown substantially in the past several years as a tool to assist businesses with hiring and employee maintenance.

AI has a rich history of development. (Source: InfoDiagram)

AI can save you thousands of man-hours when reviewing resumes. It will automatically search through resumes for specific keywords to determine the relative fit of the candidate’s education, skills, and experience in relation to your open positions.

Additionally, while AI could help mitigate hiring bias—since it does not have any human emotion to judge individuals based on their sex, race, age, and any other protected class—it can also have the opposite effect of learning about biases and reflecting it back to the user. I suggest using caution with AI and always have a real person involved in your hiring process.

Be aware, however, that while AI is here to stay, there are regulations on using AI for hiring. For example, California has enacted regulations around how AI is allowed to interact with private data.

3. Company Culture Leads to Proactive Candidate Engagement

Your company brand and culture showcase your identity, mission, and organizational outlook. By giving insight into how the business works and the community within, potential job seekers can determine if they want to work for a particular organization.

Your mission should focus on what is right for your business and for your employees. Your values should encompass everything your company believes in, and your culture should be employee-friendly and have a little something for everyone. Some culture ideas include:

• Flexible working conditions
• Remote or hybrid environment
• Compensation at or above market value
• Top-notch benefits
• Career site that highlights employer brand, including employee video testimonials

4. Alternative Recruiting Plays an Important Role in Hiring

Chatbots

Aside from using social media to build your business brand, you can improve your employee brand with the use of technology. One of these continuing technologies is the use of HR chatbots; AI-powered software programs that can be used to automate a variety of HR tasks, including answering employee questions, providing support, and even onboarding new employees.

Chatbots can improve the employee experience by:

• Providing 24/7 support: Chatbots are available 24/7 to answer employee questions and provide support. This can be especially helpful for employees who work in different time zones or who have questions outside of regular business hours.
• Automating repetitive tasks: Chatbots can be used to automate tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions, scheduling appointments, and processing requests. This can free up HR staff to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Personalizing the employee experience: Chatbots can be used to personalize and provide tailored recommendations and support. For example, chatbots can be used to recommend training courses, connect employees with mentors, or provide information about company benefits.
• Improving employee engagement: Chatbots can provide employees with a way to interact with HR in a fun and engaging way. Chatbots can also be used to provide employees with feedback and recognition.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information onto the real world, creating an interactive experience. By melding the digital and the real world together, you can create a more positive employee experience. Some of the companies that are already using AR to build their brands include Ike, Deloitte, and Toyota.

AR can be used to create virtual tours of company offices allowing candidates to explore the office space and get a feel for the company culture without having to visit in person. This can be especially helpful for companies that have remote offices or offices in different cities.

While AR might be out of reach for most small businesses, it is something to consider as technology continues to grow. A similar approach could be the use of videos to showcase your offices and company culture.

5. Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) Are Top Concerns for Candidates

Statistics suggest that diversity and inclusion are not just a nice-to-have, but a must-have for companies that want to attract and retain top talent.

Diverse Hiring

It is important to incorporate diverse hiring strategies into your recruiting practices. You can employ diverse practices by updating your job descriptions to promote diversity, posting to diverse job boards, and using a blind hiring process.

It is reported by the Boston Consulting Group’s BLISS Index that 31% of employees are happier and 25% are increasingly motivated when they believe that their company makes DEI a priority.

DEI in Job Descriptions

A vital part of your recruiting efforts is crafting job descriptions that not only explain the open position, but also give insight into your company culture and DEI efforts. Include this information in your “About You” section or as a disclaimer.

To make it clear that DEI is a top priority for your company’s culture, include the following in your job descriptions:

• Focus on the skills required for the position
• Highlight any recent DEI initiatives and their outcomes
• Be mindful to not include any racial or cultural biases
• Emphasize teamwork and collaboration
• Mention flexible working arrangements that can accommodate all types of individuals
• Highlight any benefits that are inclusive, such as floating holidays and/or mental health days

6. Job Applicants Are Getting Overlooked Among Competition

It is no secret that job candidates today face a lot of competition. With the current economic conditions, many people are searching online and vying for the same position.

So, what does this information mean for you? It means that there are multiple sources to find the right candidate. However, you need to know what candidates want and where they are looking for jobs, so you can have a leg up on the competition.

What Candidates Want

In today’s job market, candidates are looking not only for a paycheck but also for job satisfaction. They want to work for a company that will invest in their growth and development, as well as make them feel like they are part of a team and that their work is meaningful.

Current hiring trends show that, depending on generation, company loyalty, diversity, and responsibility are the top things job seekers want from new employers.

Each generation has different aspirations and are motivated by a variety of factors. (Source: EHB Trends Report 2024)

Where Applicants are Looking

The vast majority of job seekers use online job boards to find open positions. Career sites and social media also ranked highly as a source of jobs, while personal connections and print advertisements were much less popular among respondents.

This suggests that employers wanting to reach the widest pool of potential applicants should focus their recruiting efforts on online job boards and websites. Depending on your budget, you can find suitable jobs boards through our best free job posting sites or best paid job boards guides.

7. A Personalized Candidate Experience Increases Your Potential For Qualified Professionals

A good candidate experience begins before you post your open positions. It’s important to build your company brand so candidates will want to interact with you. Once you post your job ad and begin to receive responses, respond immediately to candidates that you have received their application and will review it.

According to a candidate experience study by CareerArc, 85% of job seekers believe that nobody looks at their resume when they don’t hear back from the company. It is also reported that candidates spend approximately three to four hours preparing and submitting to one job application and 72% of employers spend less than 15 minutes reviewing them.

For candidates that you do not wish to move forward in the hiring process, you can send a job rejection letter to let them know they are not qualified and have not moved on. For those that you do want to consider, keep in constant contact with them by letting them know you are reviewing their resumes and what the next steps in the process are.

8. Skills-based Recruiting Grows Over Educational Requirements

It used to be that you needed specific educational requirements to land professional positions. However, in the past decade, the focus has shifted to rely more on the skills the candidate brings to the table over their education. For example, someone with 15 years of relevant experience, but lacks a degree, is likely to be more qualified than someone who has the degree and lacks the experience. In fact, according to a Future of Work Trends for 2024 study by Gartner, employers are getting rid of the paper ceiling (the need for degrees) and relying more on workers with alternative credentials.

According to a TestGorilla State of Skills-based Hiring 2024 report, 81% of employers used some form of skills-based hiring in 2024 (up from 73% in 2023 and 56% in 2022), and 95% agree that it’s the dominant recruitment trend of the future.

Once hired, you can help your new hires stay educated with upskilling and reskilling initiatives. This trend is a good way to expand candidate pools for small businesses or startups who are struggling to find candidates for more niche roles.

Bottom Line

The data collected on staffing trends provides valuable information for you to consider when making decisions about your hiring processes. The current hiring market trends appear to be moving toward a more efficient and cost-effective use of technology in the recruiting process. This shift could save you time and money while still maintaining a high quality of applicants.