Top 11 Hiring Trends For 2023
In the last few years, the talent acquisition landscape has been rapidly evolving. With the constant technological advancements and the uncertain global economy, employers have had to get creative with sourcing, attracting, and hiring top talent.
As we look toward 2023, it is clear that the hiring landscape will continue to evolve (as the Great Resignation of 2021 continues to reshape the global workforce) - but what trends should employers be aware of?
This article will explore the top 11 hiring trends for 2023 to help you stay ahead of the curve and secure the best talent for your organization.
However, before we dive in, let's first look at how the hiring landscape has changed over the years and discuss why hiring trends are so important. This will help us better understand the significance of the trends we are about to explore.
Times Are Changing, And So Are Hiring Processes
The hiring process has changed dramatically over the years thanks to the introduction of the internet and the advancement of technology and automation. What seems common now (like Zoom, LinkedIn, Indeed, Skype, etc.) would have been unthinkable two decades ago – and yet, companies are relying heavily on these tools to help them find the right people for the job.
Before the internet and social media, the recruitment process was arduous and expensive – it often involved a lot of paperwork, slow communication, and extensive background checks. Employers and recruiters relied on local newspapers and trade magazines to advertise job openings and hoped that qualified candidates would apply for the positions advertised. And while there was a certain level of success with this method, it often took months to fill positions, and the available talent pool was limited.
Today, things are vastly different. Employers have access to a global talent pool with the click of a button. They can quickly and easily identify the right candidates through platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, company websites, and more. This has revolutionized the recruitment process, with employers seeking out the best and brightest from far and wide.
Also, unlike decades ago, scheduling job interviews and onboarding candidates is now much quicker and more efficient. In the past, job interviews were in-person only, which often led to a lengthy and costly process - with the added cost of travel and accommodation. Today, however, employers can use virtual tools like Zoom and Skype to interview candidates remotely, reducing the cost and time associated with hiring. Onboarding is also much more efficient thanks to automation which allows employers to quickly and effectively onboard new hires without having to manually transfer data.
Another big change has been the increasing focus on cultural fit. The traditional job seeker was judged purely on experience and educational background, but now employers are putting more emphasis on the individual's values, beliefs and, attitude in order to ensure they are a good fit for the organization.
At the same time, job seekers are now taking more interest in companies’ culture and values. Unlike before, they are now making sure that the companies’ core values align with their own before applying for a position.
What Should Be Included On Hiring Processes?
The hiring process involves a series of steps that should be followed closely to ensure you make the best possible hire. From identifying what positions need to be filled to conducting interviews and reference checks, it is important to make sure everything is done in a structured and systematic way.
Here are some of the key elements that should be included in any hiring process:
A Complete Plan
Before starting the process, it is important to have a well-defined recruitment strategy that outlines the roles you are looking to fill, the specifications you are looking for in candidates, and the steps that will be taken to find the right candidate. In addition, you also need to plan a budget that covers the cost of recruitment and other related expenses.
This helps ensure you have a clear idea of what needs to be done and minimizes unnecessary costs.
A Strong Job Description
A job description is essential to ensure you attract the right kind of candidates. It should be written clearly and concisely, giving a good overview of the role, the responsibilities it involves, and the qualifications or skills required.
Campaign To Attract Candidates
Once you know what kind of candidates you are looking for, it is time to start actively seeking them out. This could involve posting job adverts on job boards, hosting open days, using social media to reach out to potential candidates, or getting in touch with recruitment agencies.
A Review Of Resumes And Applications
This is the first stage of the actual selection process and involves going through all submitted resumes and applications to identify those that meet your criteria. Depending on the number of submissions, you may need to either automate this process with an applicant tracking system (ATS) or have human recruiters handle it manually. This process helps narrow down your list of potential candidates.
Pre-Interview Screenings
This is the stage where you get to meet with each candidate and evaluate them in person. You could conduct face-to-face interviews or use online video conferencing tools such as Skype or Zoom.
This stage is important as you can easily gauge the candidate's attitude, aptitude, and communication skills, narrowing down your list even further if you have a high number of potential candidates by this point.
Interviews With Qualified Candidates
You should conduct a more in-depth interview with the shortlisted candidates, during which you can ask more detailed questions to better understand their qualifications and capabilities. You should also be prepared to discuss the job in more detail, such as the working hours, salaries, benefits, and other important details.
Background And Reference Checks
Before making a decision on who to hire, it is important to carry out these two important checks to confirm that the candidate is not only suitable for the role in question but is also safe to hire. This includes looking into their criminal record, verifying the information they have provided in their application, and conducting reference checks.
Decision-Making
Once you have all the information you need, it is time to decide who to hire. You should evaluate each candidate based on their qualifications and experience, as well as their attitude and ability to fit into the team. At the end of this process, you should have a selected candidate who is the right fit for the job.
A Job Offer
A job offer letter should be used to officially offer the position to the chosen candidate. This letter should include a detailed outline of the job, terms and conditions, severance pay, salary, benefits, and any other relevant information. It should be sent to the candidate as soon as possible so that they can accept or decline the offer and move forward with the hiring process.
Hiring And Onboarding
Finally, if the offer is accepted, you should complete the hiring process by completing any paperwork and setting up an onboarding schedule to help the new employee settle in and get familiar with their duties. This includes training, induction programs, and meetings with other staff members.
Why Are Hiring Trends Important?
Hiring trends aren't just the latest fad - they're essential to ensuring that your business is attracting and retaining the best talent possible.
Hiring trends can help you:
Stay Ahead Of Your Competition
Attracting quality applicants is the key to success - and staying ahead of your rivals in this game is essential. Analyzing the latest hiring trends can give you a better understanding of what your competitors are doing, and help you stay one step ahead.
Understand How The Job Market Is Changing
The job market is ever-evolving, and understanding current hiring trends can help you keep up with those changes. From using the latest technologies to hiring remote workers, staying on top of these trends can help you remain competitive.
Find The Right Talent For Your Organization
It's no secret that finding and hiring quality employees can be a challenge. But by tracking the latest hiring trends, you can gain insight into what potential candidates are looking for in a job and use that information to make the right hire.
For example, you may find that younger professionals are more likely to be drawn to positions with flexible hours or remote opportunities. Therefore, you can adjust your recruitment strategies to better target this demographic.
Improve The Recruitment Process
When you know what trends are currently shaping the job market, you can make sure that your recruitment processes are up-to-date, efficient and effective. This means you'll have a better chance of finding the right talent for your organization quickly and easily. In turn, this will reduce the amount of time and resources you need to invest in the recruitment process.
Keep Up With The Latest HR Legislation
Employment laws and regulations are constantly changing, so it's essential that you keep up with the latest updates to remain compliant. Tracking the latest hiring trends can help you stay abreast of any changes and ensure that you're not breaking the law.
In addition, it can help you attract applicants who are looking for a workplace that is up-to-date with the latest policies and regulations.
Top 11 Hiring Trends For 2023
Now that you know why hiring trends are important, let's look at some top trends to watch out for in 2023.
1. Social Media Recruiting
One of the biggest hiring trends of recent years has been the rise of social media recruiting. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have become essential hiring tools for recruiters, allowing them to reach a much larger pool of potential candidates.
It's now possible to advertise job openings on social media, interact with potential applicants, and even conduct virtual interviews, all from the comfort of your own office.
As social media usage continues to grow - with estimates showing that almost six billion people will be using social media in 20271 - this trend is only expected to become more popular in 2023.
Pros
Wider And More Targeted Reach
Today, almost all job seekers are already active on multiple social media platforms, making it easier for recruiters to find the right candidate. Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn also offer detailed demographic information, allowing recruiters to accurately target their recruitment efforts.
Ability To Interact With Potential Candidates On A Personal Level
Social media recruitment allows recruiters to interact with potential candidates more personally, which is essential for fostering relationships and building trust. This is especially important in the early stages of recruitment when you want to better understand each candidate.
Shortens Hiring Time
Social media platforms allow recruiters to reach out directly to potential candidates and get a response quickly. This accelerates the hiring process and allows businesses to fill roles quickly.
Builds Brand Awareness
Using social media for recruitment also has the added benefit of building brand awareness. People who may not be actively seeking a job can still become aware of your organization and its mission, potentially leading to more applications in the future.
Also, as potential candidates interact with your business on social media, they learn more about your employer brand and become more familiar with your company. This not only strengthens your employer’s brand but also builds some level of trust among potential employees.
Cons
False Information
Social media recruitment carries the risk of potential applicants providing false information about themselves. This can lead to problems down the line when you discover that the candidate is not who they claim to be.
Privacy Concerns
Social media holds a lot of personal data about potential candidates. However, if you are leveraging social media for recruitment, you may turn off some potential applicants who like to keep their personal and professional lives separate.
2. Data-Driven Recruiting
Data-driven recruiting is the process of using data to inform and shape recruitment decisions. This means relying on data rather than intuition or "gut feelings" when it comes to making decisions.
Data-driven recruitment can help you understand where and how to source talent, identify gaps in skill sets, and use predictive analytics to determine how likely a candidate is to be successful in the role.
Many companies are already successfully leveraging data-driven technologies to improve their recruitment processes, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023 as more and more companies look for a competitive edge.
Pros
Improve The Quality Of Hire
Using data to inform recruitment decisions helps you make better hiring decisions since it removes any bias from the process. This means you can focus on the data that matters to differentiate the best candidates from the rest.
Shorten The Recruitment Process
Data-driven recruitment can help you make decisions quickly, reducing the time it takes to fill a position. This not only saves you time and money but also ensures that positions are filled by the best-suited candidates.
Improve Predictive Analytics
Data-driven recruitment also helps you improve your talent forecasting capabilities. By leveraging data from previous recruitment cycles, you can better understand who is likely to be successful in certain roles and which candidates should be prioritized during the recruitment process.
Cons
Data Overload
While data can provide invaluable insights for recruitment, it can also be overwhelming. With so much data available, recruiters can easily become overwhelmed and miss out on important details or insights that could be beneficial in making the right hiring decisions.
Data Security
Data-driven recruitment also carries the risk of a data breach since you are collecting sensitive information about potential candidates. This means that you must have robust data security measures in place to ensure the safety of this data and protect it from any unauthorized access.
3. Diversity And Inclusion Driven Recruiting
Diversity and inclusion have become an integral part of recruitment in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue into 2023. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace to attract the best talent, foster innovation and creativity, and ultimately grow their business.
Companies are using data-driven recruitment methods to ensure they are making decisions that prioritize diversity and inclusion, while also recognizing the importance of creating an equitable workplace.
Pros
Grows Your Talent Pool
Adopting a diversity and inclusion-driven recruitment strategy can help you expand your potential talent pool. This means that you are no longer limited to sourcing talent from a narrow demographic. You can open up the recruitment process to untapped talent pools and leverage data-driven analytics to identify the best-suited candidates for each role.
Boosts Employer Brand
Diversity and inclusion-driven recruitment also helps you build a stronger employer brand. Companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion tend to attract more job seekers, giving you an edge in the competitive job market. In addition, if your brand is known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, it can appeal to many different customers and potential business partners.
Promotes Creativity And Innovation
Having a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for fostering creativity and innovation. Creating an environment that embraces different perspectives, ideas, backgrounds, and skills can open up a world of opportunities for growth and innovation.
Cons
Resource-Intensive
Diversity and inclusion-driven recruitment can be resource-intensive since it requires a deep understanding of the talent market and data analytics. This means that you need to allocate more resources to research and analyze the market, identify potential candidates, and track the progress of each candidate.
Risk Of Tokenism
Without proper implementation and monitoring, diversity and inclusion-driven recruitment can backfire and result in "tokenism" - where an organization hires a few diverse candidates to appear "inclusive" without actually creating an equitable workplace. To ensure that your recruitment strategy is effective, you must create and enforce policies that promote equitable hiring practices.
4. Employer Branding
Another trend that is expected to continue into 2023 is employer branding. Job seekers are becoming more discerning about the companies they work for, and many are now researching employers before deciding to apply.
At the same time, companies are now realizing that it's not enough to simply post job openings and wait for the applications to come in - they need to actively work on creating and maintaining an attractive employer brand.
Employer branding is becoming increasingly important as it helps job seekers understand what a company is about, the values it stands for, and how its culture differs from other organizations. Just like a product or service, employers need to create an appealing brand and have a strong web presence to attract the best talent.
Pros
Attracts Top Talent
Having a clear and attractive employer brand helps you stand out from the competition and is essential for attracting top talent. Job seekers are more likely to apply for job openings if they understand the company's values and culture, as well as what it's like to work there.
Saves Time And Cost Per Hire
An established employer brand helps save time and cost per hire. With a clear employer brand, job seekers are more likely to apply for job openings or actively seek out your company. This means that you can save time and resources on the recruitment process and lower costs associated with advertising and sourcing.
Improves Candidate Experience
Another benefit of employer branding is that it improves the candidate experience. By conveying a clear message about your company's culture and values, job seekers can get a better feel for the company before applying. This helps them make an informed decision about whether they should apply and prevents them from wasting their time if it's not a good fit.
Cons
Time-Consuming
Creating an effective employer brand takes time and effort. It requires researching the target audience, creating a unique message and visuals, and actively managing the brand.
Requires Frequent Updates
Employer branding requires regular maintenance and updates. Your company's values, culture, and offerings can change over time - and it's essential to keep your employer branding up-to-date in order to attract the right job seekers.
5. Recruitment Marketing
Recruitment marketing is the practice of leveraging marketing tactics to attract and engage potential job seekers. This includes creating targeted campaigns on social media, using job boards and other online resources, and developing creative strategies to reach out to the right people.
Companies are now realizing the importance of investing in recruitment marketing, as it helps them reach a wider pool of qualified applicants and increases their chances of finding the right person for the job.
Recruitment marketing is expected to continue gaining traction in 2023, as companies look for ways to stand out from the competition.
Pros
Wider Reach
With recruitment marketing, you aren't simply waiting for job seekers to come to you - instead, you are actively reaching out and engaging potential applicants. This helps you cast a wider net and reach a larger pool of job seekers who may not have found out about your job openings otherwise.
Creates Positive Brand Awareness
Recruitment marketing is also a great way to generate positive brand awareness. By creating targeted campaigns and engaging content, you can show job seekers what it's like to work for your company and how it stands out from the competition.
Targeted Approach
Another advantage of recruitment marketing is that it allows you to take a more targeted approach. By targeting certain demographics or job seekers with specific skills, you can ensure that you are reaching the right people and increasing your chances of finding the best match for the job.
Cons
Time-Consuming
Recruitment marketing requires a lot of time and effort. It takes research to identify the best channels for reaching out to potential job seekers, and it requires consistent management to stay on top of the latest trends and get maximum results.
Costly
As with any kind of marketing, recruitment marketing can be costly. You'll need to invest in resources and advertising to reach the right people, and this can quickly add up. Depending on your budget, you may want to be strategic in how you use marketing tactics for recruitment - for example, by focusing more on organic methods instead of paid ads.
6. Work Flexibility
Work flexibility is becoming increasingly popular as companies look for ways to make their workplaces more attractive to potential talent. Work flexibility often includes flexible scheduling, remote working options, and other perks that allow employees to structure their work in a way that best suits their needs.
Companies are now recognizing the benefits of creating an environment that values and supports their employees, and are increasingly offering flexible work arrangements to help attract the best talent.
This trend is expected to continue in 2023 as more and more companies look for ways to make their workplaces attractive to all job seekers (full-timers, contractors, freelancers, and interns).
Pros
Attracts Top Talent
Work flexibility is an attractive benefit for job seekers, as it allows them to have a better work-life balance and structure their schedules in a way that works best for them. As a result, offering flexible options can help you attract top talent and stand out from the competition.
Retains Existing Employees
Also, work flexibility isn't just beneficial for potential job seekers, but for existing employees as well. By allowing employees to work remotely or adjust their hours, you can make them feel more valued and appreciated, which can help reduce turnover rates and retain top talent.
Cons
Lack Of Face-To-Face Interaction
One potential downside of work flexibility is that it can lead to a lack of face-to-face interactions and collaboration. While some people may prefer this type of arrangement, it can be difficult to foster the same kind of team spirit and camaraderie that comes with in-office work.
Potential For Increased Productivity Problems
Another potential downside of work flexibility is that it can lead to productivity problems. Without the structure of a typical office, it can be more difficult for employees to stay on task and ensure they are productive. It's important to set clear expectations and boundaries to ensure that employees stay on track and complete their tasks.
7. Hiring For Soft Skills
Soft skills – such as problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, and communication – are becoming increasingly important for recruitment in the modern job market. Companies are now recognizing the importance of hiring candidates with strong soft skills, as these traits often lead to better employee engagement and job performance.
Consequently, employers are now looking beyond technical qualifications and focusing on developing a team with the right mix of soft skills, as this is often linked to better business outcomes. As a result, hiring for soft skills is expected to continue being a key trend in 2023.
Pros
More Productive Teams
Hiring for soft skills can help create more productive teams, as employees with strong soft skills are often more engaged and better equipped to handle the challenges of their role. This can lead to better team collaboration, increased job satisfaction, and higher performance overall.
Better Workplace Culture
Hiring candidates with strong soft skills can create a workplace culture that focuses on collaboration and problem-solving. This can help foster an environment of trust and support, ultimately leading to better job outcomes.
Cons
Difficult To Measure
One potential downside of hiring for soft skills is that they can be difficult to measure. Unlike technical qualifications, it can be difficult to assess how well an individual will perform on the job based solely on their soft skills. As a result, employers need to take extra care to ensure that they are selecting the right candidates.
May Be Time-Consuming
Hiring for soft skills can be time-consuming, as employers need to put in extra effort to identify candidates with the right mix of skills and personalities. This can lead to a longer hiring process, which may not be ideal for businesses that need to fill positions quickly.
8. Hiring For Remote Work And Hybrid Work
As the pandemic has demonstrated, remote work can be as successful as in-person work. Companies are now beginning to recognize this and are increasingly looking to hire remote workers and hybrid teams.
In fact, a recent survey indicated that 51% of employers were open to the hybrid work model.2 At the same time, employees are also increasingly open to working remotely, with 50% of them globally working outside their main office.3
With these growing trends, hiring for remote work and hybrid teams is expected to be strong in 2023.
Pros
Better Access To Talent
By hiring for remote work and hybrid teams, companies can expand their search and have access to a larger talent pool. This can help employers find the right candidates for their positions, regardless of location.
Cost-Effective
Hiring for remote work and hybrid teams can also be cost-effective, as companies can save on overhead costs such as electricity and resources used at the office.
Cons
Not Suitable For All Industries
Certain industries require in-person collaboration, which may make remote work and hybrid teams not suitable. Employers need to carefully assess their needs before deciding whether or not to pursue this trend.
Communication And Collaboration Difficulties
With remote work and hybrid teams, it can be difficult to ensure everyone is on the same page. As a result, it can be challenging to maintain effective communication and collaboration between team members
9. Building And Maintaining Sizable Talent Pools
Companies are now realizing that they need to think of recruitment as an ongoing process. Instead of just focusing on filling current openings, employers must now also invest in building and maintaining sizable talent pools. These pools can be used to quickly fill future openings, helping companies save time and money when it comes to recruitment.
Furthermore, having a sizable talent pool also helps companies ensure that they are always prepared for any unexpected vacancies in the future.
As such, building and maintaining sizeable talent pools is expected to be a major trend in 2023 as more and more companies shift their focus from reactive to proactive recruitment.
Pros
Cost-Efficient
Maintaining a sizable talent pool helps companies save on recruitment costs as they do not need to start the search process from scratch every time they have an opening.
Better Access To Top Talent
Having a sizable pool of candidates also means that companies have access to top talent at all times. This helps employers find the best possible candidates for their positions quickly and easily.
Cons
Requires Ongoing Effort
Building and maintaining a sizable talent pool requires an ongoing effort from employers. This means dedicating resources to keep the talent pool up-to-date and ensuring that potential candidates are engaged at all times.
Increased Competition For Talent
Having a sizable pool of candidates also means that employers have to compete with other companies for the same talent. This can lead to an increase in salaries and benefits, which could make hiring more expensive.
10. RPO
Recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) is a growing trend in the industry, as it helps companies streamline their recruitment processes, save time and money, and reduce the burden on in-house teams.
RPO services are often provided by external recruitment companies and can cover everything from sourcing talent to onboarding new hires. As such, RPO is expected to remain a key trend in 2023, as more companies look to take advantage of its benefits.
Pros
Time-Effective
RPO can save companies a lot of time, as it eliminates the need for employers to spend hours searching for the right candidates.
Analytics And Reporting
RPO providers often offer analytics and reporting as part of their services, giving employers access to detailed insights into their recruitment process. This helps employers make data-driven decisions and ensure that their recruitment processes are as efficient as possible.
Cons
Lack Of Control
When companies outsource their recruitment processes, they lose a certain level of control over the process. This can be problematic for employers who require strict adherence to internal processes.
Pressure On In-House Teams
Outsourcing recruitment processes can also put pressure on in-house teams, as they may be responsible for liaising with the external recruitment company. This could lead to additional workload and stress.
11. AI Hiring
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment is becoming increasingly commonplace, as it can help companies speed up the process of sifting through large numbers of applicants.
AI can also be used to enhance the candidate experience, as it can provide candidates with personalized job recommendations and automated feedback on their applications.
As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, more and more companies are turning to it for their recruitment needs. As a result, AI hiring is expected to be one of the key hiring trends in 2023.
Pros
Time-Saving
AI can help employers save time by automating processes like candidate’s sourcing and screening. This helps employers focus on more important tasks, such as interviewing and onboarding.
Enhanced Candidate Experience
Using AI for recruitment can also help provide candidates with a better experience, as it can provide them with tailored job recommendations and automated feedback on their applications. This helps employers build relationships with potential candidates before they even apply for a job.
Cons
Costly
AI hiring can be costly, as it requires specialized software and resources. This means that companies need to invest in the right technology if they want to use AI for their recruitment needs.
Lack Of Human Touch
Using AI for recruitment also risks losing the human touch, as AI can't always pick up on subtle nuances in a candidate's profile or provide personalized feedback. This means that companies may still need to involve human recruiters to ensure that candidates get the best possible experience.
Choosing The Best Hiring Method For Your Company
With so many trends and technologies emerging in the hiring landscape, it can be hard to know which method is best for your company. Ultimately, the right hiring method will depend on the specific needs of your company and the resources available to you.
For example, if you are looking for a cost-effective and time-saving solution, RPO might be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more personalized candidate experience, AI hiring might be the way to go.
Whichever method you choose, make sure that it aligns with your company's mission and values to ensure successful recruitment in 2023.
Final Thoughts
As the job market continues to evolve, it is important to stay ahead of the curve and make sure that your recruitment practices are up to date. By keeping an eye on the trends outlined above, you can ensure that your company is well-positioned to take advantage of the latest recruitment trends in 2023.
If you have any questions or need help with talent acquisition, Opusuna is here to help. We have extensive experience in helping companies of all sizes find the right talent for their teams.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you find the perfect fit for your company!
Sources:
- Published by S. Dixon, & 16, S. (2022, September 16). Number of worldwide social network users 2027. Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/#:~:text=Social%20media%20usage%20is%20one,almost%20six%20billion%20in%202027.
- CISION ID. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&%22
- Global Research reveals flexible working matters to employees. IWG Global Workspace Survey - Flexible Working - IWG plc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://work.iwgplc.com/global-workspace-survey-2019
