Recapping the Top 5 Staffing Trends of 2023
Post-COVID, the staffing industry was forced to adopt a new way of working. In order to successfully navigate the uncertainty of the job market, recruiters are now tasked with embracing the changes in workforce trends and new technology.
According to a survey conducted by Tracker, a leading cloud-based recruitment, applicant tracking and CRM software provider, the top opportunities in 2023 include technology and automation, building relationships with candidates and clients, and expanding into new markets.
Additionally, 2023 has produced economic uncertainty and an influx of layoffs across many industries—making recruiter’s jobs more challenging than ever. The biggest flex is finding creative ways to make your company stand out in today’s competitive job market.
Today we recap the biggest staffing trends of 2023, including flexible work environments, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), artificial intelligence (AI), chatbots, and skill-based hiring.
Remote and Hybrid Work
Remote work is without a doubt one of the biggest trends the staffing industry has seen in 2023. The influx in remote work skyrocketed post-COVID and since then, many employees who took advantage of this opportunity, now prefer to continue working full-time from the comfort of their homes.
While many organizations are still offering 100% remote work opportunities, others have adopted a hybrid model (a combination of in-office and remote work). This type of work model varies by company and individual. For example, an employee could be asked to come into the office as often as 1-3 times per week, and in other cases, as little as 1-3 times per month.
The reason hybrid working has become so popular is because it allows employees the flexibility to choose where they will be the most productive and uninterrupted on any given day. According to a report by EmployeeCycle, the creators of an all-in-one HR analytics hub, about 85% of recruiters believe that a hybrid working culture is here to stay.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Many recent unfortunate events in the U.S. concerning racism, discrimination, and inequality have dictated a change in staffing models—resulting in more focus than ever on DEI recruitment strategies. Numerous studies have proven that a diverse and inclusive workforce performs better from a productivity and financial perspective, so we can almost assuredly expect this trend to continue.
New Technology
Artificial intelligence has become a hugely popular technology—paving the way in the staffing industry. In 2023, we’ve seen an increase in the utilization of AI tools such as chatbots in many organization’s staffing and recruitment processes. There’s also a high chance that HR automation (using software to automate repetitive tasks), will play a key role in the human resources field moving forward.
Skills-First Hiring
In 2023, organizations started placing greater importance on candidates’ transferable or soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving – often the type skills found when hiring veterans. In addition to hard skills and relevant work experience, recruiters are now evaluating a candidate’s potential for growth and their ability to learn and adapt to new technologies. This type hiring is prevalent in the skilled trades sector and is often lead by initiatives in education such as skilled trades apprenticeships.
According to a skills-based hiring report by Test Gorilla, a pre-employment test platform, 70% of employees agree that skills-based hiring is more effective than resumes and 89% of organizations improved employee retention when hiring for skills.
Wrapping up
I think it’s safe to say that the staffing industry is undergoing a transformational shift. In 2023 alone, we’ve seen rapid growth in flexible work environments, DEI, AI, chatbots, and skill-based hiring. Seasonal hiring trends have changed, too.
Overall, remote and hybrid work has been among the top recruitment trends in 2023. As CNBC reports, “the cost of switching jobs is lower when remote work is on the table.”
Moreover, employees’ preferences and demands for more favorable work environments and company cultures are forcing companies to evolve and incorporate new technology. In my opinion, the companies that will achieve the most success will be the ones that flow with the tide and “embrace the new” in an ever-changing staffing environment.
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About the Author
Kim is a seasoned content marketing professional with over twelve years of corporate communications experience. Her sweetspot is with
creative writing both short and long-form. She has a proven track record working with IBM, Jackson Healthcare, and Walt Disney World, among others. Kim is a singer and actress and has been performing on stage and screen her entire life and has a great passion for TV and film production. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn.