What Business Leaders Need to Know About the Changing Recruitment Landscape
What Business Leaders Need to Know About the Changing Recruitment Landscape
For experienced business leaders, keeping an eye on recruitment trends is essential, especially when these shifts could impact growth and operations. While you might know your market inside out, recruitment can be a different game, full of complexities that require time and expertise to manage. With recent changes, understanding how to attract the right talent while keeping control of your budget is more important than ever. Here’s what’s happening and why using an agency could make all the difference.
1. Hiring Costs Are Rising
New tax increases, such as higher National Insurance contributions, are making hiring more expensive. This has prompted many businesses to take a more cautious approach, planning their recruitment budgets for 2025 conservatively and focusing on getting the best value from each hire. This is where partnering with an experienced recruitment agency can help you navigate these challenges efficiently and strategically.
2. The Shift Towards Quality Over Quantity
Companies are changing their recruitment strategies to prioritise attracting high-quality candidates over sheer numbers. However, as a business leader, you know that balancing quality with budget constraints isn’t always straightforward. Agencies can step in here, using their expertise and resources to create targeted campaigns that draw the right candidates and avoid wasted time and money on unsuitable applications.
3. Visibility Matters—Even Without Immediate Results
One key insight from recent discussions is that niche industry websites, while not always resulting in immediate hires, play an essential role in a long-term recruitment strategy. Many visitors to these sites are there for industry news and are classed as passive jobseekers. By maintaining a presence on these platforms, your company can stay on their radar for future opportunities. An agency can help position your brand effectively on these sites and strike the right balance between immediate results and long-term visibility marketing, ensuring you’re building a strong pipeline for the future.
Case in Point: We worked with a financial company that used a range of job platforms with tracked URLs over 12 months. The findings were insightful: while industry websites didn’t produce immediate tracked hires, they did show spikes in career site traffic during those periods. This indicated that passive jobseekers were researching the company after seeing their presence on industry platforms. The takeaway? While the results may not be immediate, these sites support brand visibility and attract quality candidates who take their time to consider their options.
4. Navigating Quick Applications
Today’s jobseekers often prefer quick, simple application processes, which can lead to a mix of strong and weaker applicants. Managing this balance can be tough without recruitment expertise. Agencies can fine-tune your job ads and improve the overall candidate experience, so you’re not overwhelmed with unsuitable applications. They know how to leverage modern tools and strategies to streamline your recruitment process.
5. How Agencies Can Help You Adapt
If the market continues in its current direction, partnering with an agency can offer:
Targeted advertising expertise: Agencies have access to industry-specific data and technology that allows them to place ads where your ideal candidates are most likely to see them.
Refinement of job ads: Agencies can craft job descriptions that set clear expectations, helping to filter out unsuitable candidates from the start.
Ongoing campaign management: With continuous monitoring and real-time adjustments, agencies can adapt your campaigns quickly to what’s working and what isn’t, saving you time and stress.
6. Preparing Your Business for What’s Next
More candidates are entering the job market, but pay growth is slowing down. This creates a unique opportunity for businesses that can strike the right balance between immediate recruitment needs and long-term strategy. An agency’s expertise can guide you through these choppy waters, helping you stay agile, attract quality candidates, and make the most of your recruitment budget.
Ready to navigate the evolving recruitment landscape? Contact Further Media to see how our tailored solutions can support your business and maximise your recruitment efforts.
