The last few years have been unprecedented in the U.S. labor market. From widespread job losses at the start of the pandemic to the mass exodus of workers that’s become known as the “Great Resignation,” employers have been left scrambling to ramp up hiring as consumers slowly return to their pre-pandemic lives.
Amid record-level turnover and job openings, shifting employee expectations of what they want from their employer, and a shrinking pool of workers interested in hourly work; the hiring process has changed radically since 2020. In February of 2022, the unemployment rate further declined by 0.2% thus pushing the US unemployment rate to 3.6%– the lowest level reported since 1976. Today’s job seekers face no shortage of opportunities, which means companies need to shift their approach to the hiring process if they want to attract and retain reliable, high-quality workers.
The balance of (hiring) power has shifted
Hiring used to be a straightforward proposition: hiring managers would post a listing on a job board and then process the applications that flowed in before making offers to the best candidates.
Times have changed. Today, with more job openings than potential employees, job seekers are in control — and companies have to work hard to attract the right talent. At the same time, recruiters are overwhelmed by the number of positions they have to fill — and their teams, too, are likely understaffed. In this candidate-driven environment, what’s a hiring manager to do?
To be successful, companies need to understand how job seekers’ expectations about the hiring process and employment have changed. What do job seekers want — and what can you do to stand out?
Streamline the application process
Job seekers have so many employment options that they won’t engage with a complicated application process. To attract great talent and get them to follow through with applying, companies must overhaul their application process, so it’s simple, efficient, and keeps applicants engaged until they click “submit.”
Provide true flexibility
Flexibility and choosing their hours has become a key requirement for all job seekers. A recent survey found that more than 25% of the jobs rejected by hourly workers were turned down due to the hours offered, compared to 10% of jobs rejected because of pay.
Evolving your recruitment and hiring processes
Given the change in expectations, one thing is clear: to be successful, companies need to evolve their hiring processes — and they must do so now. That means activating new strategies to efficiently engage and attract the right talent and finding ways to stand out and become more adept at meeting job seekers’ needs.
The good news? While the pandemic and an “ever-widening skills gap” ushered in new trends in hiring, there are simple, efficient ways to move forward — proactively engaging candidates early in the recruitment process, for example, using advanced screening tools, and focusing on data-centric recruitment. Organizations that leverage these trends to optimize their recruitment have a good chance of bouncing back in the next 12 months.
Indeed Flex can help guide responses to these significant changes. With our unique insights into what job seekers want and need right now, our platform simplifies the recruitment, engagement, search and hiring processes by offering workers:
- A low-friction application process enables job seekers to apply for jobs 24/7 — and get confirmed for shifts instantaneously.
- The flexibility to choose when and where they want to work
- The opportunity to set pay rate parameters so they can get matched with work assignments that meet their salary requirements
- A thriving online community where they can connect, learn, and be inspired by other hourly and temp workers
Want to learn how Indeed Flex can help you start filling your open shifts with highly skilled, motivated, flexible workers? Sign up today— and see how Indeed Flex can make hiring less work for you and your team.
