Emerging Hiring Trends for 2024

We're several weeks into 2024, and some unexpected patterns are emerging.

As a recruiting team, we anxiously awaited the January job order rush, which came just as we predicted. Our amazing clients had big hiring goals as we charged into the New Year. But we also felt the winds of change. Here's what we observed as we worked through over 6,000 applications on behalf of our employers in January and early February:

1. Sales and marketing professionals are in demand. We had numerous small business clients looking to build their sales and marketing teams. If you are hiring for sales, expect some competition from other employers also looking to grow. Planning for a first hire in sales or marketing can be a bit more complicated than some of your other hires. Feel free to connect with us if you have questions or want resources to help you as you plan to fill these roles.
2. Layoffs. We find we're working with more candidates who have experienced layoffs (or a sense that their employers are preparing for them). Businesses seem to be "right-sizing" their teams. Now that the COVID burst in sales has passed and the supply chain has righted itself, some employers are realizing they need to trim office staff to adjust for changes in workload. This is primarily impacting office positions. We've seen very few layoffs that impact construction, production, or other skilled workers.
3. Uptick in bad candidate behavior. We've seen our fair share of rude candidates over the years. In the past few weeks, we've seen more and more candidates cross the line of polite follow-up into pushy and demanding territory. Some of these candidates have enjoyed the benefits of the exceedingly tight labor market, where their shortcomings were overlooked by companies desperate to hire. But as employers become slightly more selective in their hiring decisions, these candidates are being passed over, and they are unhappy about it. And they are not afraid to tell the hiring team and/or recruiter what they think.
4. Increased applicants. We have several searches with 200+ applicants by the time they hit the 30-day mark. Two years ago, we rarely saw that many applicants. In general, candidates are more serious about the interview process.
5. Increased candidate follow-up. Perhaps candidates sense there is more competition for the jobs they are applying for. More and more candidates are submitting an application and then calling to follow up. If/when this happens, take note. It's usually a sign of a candidate who is highly responsible and worth serious consideration even if they were a "B lister" at first glance—OR someone is desperate and likely to turn into the type of candidate described in observation #3. We've seen a few candidates on the B-list based on their resumes but got a second look and a job offer because of their due diligence.

These are trends that we've observed as we kick off the New Year. Feel free to connect with us if you have any questions about navigating these new challenges and opportunities. Even if you aren't ready to start a search, we're always here for you as a resource!