The ongoing pandemic and technological advancement are forcing the workplace to evolve. The job market has become more competitive, with remote and hybrid work models becoming the new normal. Employee priorities are shifting - people are re-evaluating their approach to business ethics and workplace wellness and gaining higher expectations about job satisfaction. With more ways of working, hiring remains strong, and businesses need to shift their focus to new hiring and recruitment trends.
With just a few months left for 2023, it’s time you reconsider your recruiting strategy according to the new and upcoming hiring trends. Below are the top recruitment trends companies and HR professionals should be aware of in 2023.
Flexible Work Model
Employers that ignore the popularity of flexible remote working will find themselves struggling to attract and retain talent next year. Post-pandemic, working from home has become a new normal, with more people enjoying the freedom to live and work wherever they are happiest and more productive. According to a survey of more than 10,000 workers, 95% of people surveyed want flexible hours, and 78% of employees want location flexibility. With that said, flexible work is the go-to option to offer employees.
Although the shift to a flexible work model has largely been beneficial to both parties, there is another important issue that should be addressed. The research has found that at least 30% of remote workers feel lonely or disconnected. Most importantly, employees who work remotely full-time don’t think that their employers and co-workers care about them. So going into 2023, it’s crucial that you consider the possible lack of connection and create a working environment where all employees can socialize and develop stronger relationships.
Diversity and Inclusion
HR managers see diversity and inclusion as both the main trend and key challenges in the upcoming years. The survey shows that nearly 80% of talent acquisition specialists claim “diversity hiring” is the most important trend in the recruiting industry for 2022. Moreover, according to recent research by LinkedIn, 73% of recruiters say diversity will be very important to the future of recruiting.
As more and more candidates value, companies will need to focus on implementing innovative DEI strategies to eliminate bias in recruiting. The strategies may include establishing better metrics, conducting unconscious-bias training, applicant tracking, and ensuring that HR professionals are fairly engaging with women and ethnic minorities.
Data-driven Recruiting
The implementation of consistent, data-driven talent acquisition strategies is one of today’s hottest recruitment trends. A survey by Deloitte showed that 71% of businesses had been found to prioritize analytics in recruitment. Recruiters use real-time analytics - from measuring the time and cost of hiring and offering acceptance rates to evaluating candidate feedback scores - to help them make thoughtful hiring decisions. Sources of these data may include HR software like ATS or recruitment marketing platforms.
“Data isn’t new. Getting insight from it also isn’t new. But the amount of data we have access to now, combined with the speed it comes at us, means that the smartest recruiting organizations are finding new ways to gather and analyze data at speeds previously unthinkable. And they’re using that data not only to make smarter recruiting decisions but to influence broader business strategy that determines talent needs in the first place.”
Dion Love, Narrative Strategist, CEB (Corporate Executive Board)
Candidate Sourcing
Candidate sourcing will continue to remain a crucial talent acquisition channel in 2023. Sourced candidates account for nearly 30% of all hires, the second most common origin of hire. According to the SourceCon research, a 35 minute a day investment in sourcing, HR professionals can enjoy a 35% response rate from potential candidates - increasing the chances of finding top talent.
Moreover, AI-driven technology will help to bring candidate sourcing to a new level. Such processes as keyword searches can be automated, which saves recruiters a significant amount of time. For instance, Employa uses artificial intelligence to source candidates from ATS as well as externally. The software allows users to set unlimited search criteria and assign different levels of importance to them for more accurate search results.
Focus on Candidate Experience
With the demand for skilled professionals outweighing the supply, candidates are becoming more selective when applying for new positions. With that in mind, creating a positive candidate experience becomes an increasingly important factor. According to the LinkedIn survey, more than 80% of talent acquisition specialists said that engaging candidates is becoming crucial.
Things like providing feedback at the application stage, updating candidates on their statuses, and outlining the steps of the interview process may seem basic but can have a significant impact on overall candidate satisfaction.