Hiring Statistics 2026
This page collects hiring figures for recruiters, HR teams and anyone choosing an applicant tracking system: job openings, hires and quits, vacancies in other countries, recruiting difficulty, time to hire and applicant volume, job postings and candidate experience, and the use of AI in recruiting. US data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and employer surveys; UK, EU, Canadian and Australian figures come from their national statistics offices and Eurostat. Most figures describe 2025 and 2026. SmartRecruiters platform data cover September 2023 to August 2024 and are labeled by year.
By the KeenVerdict research desk · Updated November 6, 2026 · 55 figures from 31 sources
The short answer
US employers had 7.5 million job openings and made 5.4 million hires in September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 63.0 million hires across 2025. SHRM's 2026 benchmarking puts the median time to fill a nonexecutive role at 39 days, iCIMS platform data show 30 applicants per opening, and SHRM found 43% of organizations used AI for HR tasks in 2025, up from 26% in 2024.
Key figures
- 7.5 millionUS employers had 7.5 million job openings on the last business day of September 2026, little changed from August.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 63.0 millionUS employers made 63.0 million hires across 2025, 1.5 million fewer than in 2024.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 691,000The UK had an estimated 691,000 vacancies in July to September 2026, the first time below 700,000 since early 2021.Office for National Statistics
- 69%69% of US organizations surveyed by SHRM in 2025 were still struggling to fill full-time roles, back to 2016 levels after a 2022 peak.SHRM
- 39The median time to fill a nonexecutive role was 39 calendar days in SHRM's 2026 recruiting benchmarking of US organizations.SHRM
- 291The average recruiter on Ashby processed 291 applications per hire in early 2026, up from about 100 in early 2021.Ashby
- 43%43% of US organizations used AI for HR tasks in 2025, up from 26% in 2024, according to SHRM.SHRM
- 63%63% of 2,950 active US job seekers surveyed by Greenhouse in 2026 had been interviewed by an AI, up 13 points in six months.Greenhouse
Our reading of the data
Hiring in 2026 is slow rather than shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 7.5 million US job openings in September 2026 but only 5.4 million hires and 3.4 million quits, and Indeed Hiring Lab describes the hiring pace as the slowest since 2013. Across 2025 US employers made 63.0 million hires, 1.5 million fewer than in 2024, while quits fell to 38.0 million. Low churn means fewer people leave jobs, so fewer seats open up for new candidates.
The same cooling shows up abroad. The ONS estimated 691,000 UK vacancies in July to September 2026, the first reading below 700,000 since 2021, and Eurostat put the EU job vacancy rate at 2.0% in the second quarter. Statistics Canada counted 510,200 vacancies with 3.0 unemployed people per opening, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics found vacancies 31.2% below their 2022 peak. In the UK, CIPD found only 57% of private sector employers planned to recruit, the lowest since 2016 outside the pandemic.
Inside recruiting teams the strain comes from volume, not scarcity. SHRM puts median time to fill at 39 days and iCIMS at 40 days, SmartRecruiters counts 73 applicants per role, and Ashby recruiters process 291 applications per hire, nearly three times the early 2021 level. SHRM found requisitions per recruiter up 67% at extra-large organizations in 2026, and 34% of recruiters in Greenhouse's survey spent up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications.
AI is changing both sides of the process. SHRM found AI use in HR tasks reached 43% in 2025, HireVue reports 77% of HR teams using AI weekly or daily, and LinkedIn counts 37% of organizations working with generative AI in recruiting. On the candidate side, 63% of Greenhouse respondents had faced an AI interview and Gartner found 39% used AI to apply. Trust lags adoption: only 41% of HireVue respondents trust these systems, and 51% of candidates who completed an AI interview never heard back.
US job openings, hires and quits
- 1.
US employers had 7.5 million job openings on the last business day of September 2026, little changed from August.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
The number of job openings was little changed at 7.5 million in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
- 2.
The US job openings rate was 4.5% in September 2026, meaning openings made up 4.5% of filled jobs plus openings.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
The number and rate of job openings were little changed at 7.5 million and 4.5 percent, respectively, in September.
- 3.
US employers made 5.4 million hires in September 2026, a hires rate of 3.4% of employment.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
The number and rate of hires changed little at 5.4 million and 3.4 percent, respectively, over the month.
- 4.
3.4 million US workers quit their jobs in September 2026, a quits rate of 2.1%.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
The number of quits increased to 3.4 million, while the rate was little changed at 2.1 percent in September.
- 5.
Layoffs and discharges in the US held at 1.6 million in September 2026, a rate of 1.0%.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
In September, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million and 1.0 percent, respectively.
- 6.
US employers made 63.0 million hires across 2025, 1.5 million fewer than in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026)
Source quote
In 2025, the annual hires level was 63.0 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from 2024.
- 7.
US job openings averaged 7.1 million a month in 2025, down 571,000 from the 2024 average.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026)
Source quote
In 2025, the annual average job openings level was 7.1 million, a decrease of 571,000 from 2024.
- 8.
US workers quit 38.0 million jobs in 2025, and quits made up 60.6% of all separations.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026)
Source quote
Annual quits decreased by 1.3 million in 2025 to 38.0 million and accounted for 60.6 percent of total separations.
- 9.
Indeed Hiring Lab read the September 2026 JOLTS data as US employers hiring at the slowest pace since 2013 and workers quitting at the slowest pace since 2015.
Indeed Hiring Lab, September 2026 JOLTS Report: Eerily Quiet (Nov 2026)
Source quote
Employers are hiring at the slowest pace since 2013, and workers are quitting at the slowest pace since 2015.
- 10.
30% of employees surveyed by Gartner in December 2025 said they would stay in their current job because of economic volatility even if offered a better one.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In December 2025, Gartner surveyed 3,072 employees and found that 30% said they would prefer staying at their current job due to economic volatility, even if they were to receive a better offer.
Job vacancies in the UK, EU, Canada and Australia
- 11.
The UK had an estimated 691,000 vacancies in July to September 2026, the first time below 700,000 since early 2021.
Office for National Statistics, Vacancies and jobs in the UK: October 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
Vacancy estimates decreased on the quarter, with early estimates for July to September 2026 suggesting a decrease of 21,000 (2.9%) vacancies to 691,000, compared with April to June 2026; this is the first time the total has been below 700,000 since February to April 2021.
- 12.
There were 2.4 unemployed people for every vacancy in the UK in June to August 2026.
Office for National Statistics, Vacancies and jobs in the UK: October 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
There were 2.4 unemployed people per vacancy in June to August 2026, down from 2.5 in March to May 2026, a level at which the ratio has remained since July to September 2025.
- 13.
UK businesses with 1 to 9 employees had 38,000 fewer vacancies in July to September 2026 than a year earlier, a 32.8% drop.
Office for National Statistics, Vacancies and jobs in the UK: October 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
The largest decrease was for businesses with 1 to 9 employees, down 38,000 (32.8%) vacancies.
- 14.
The EU job vacancy rate was 2.0% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.1% a year earlier.
Eurostat, Job vacancy statistics (Sep 2026)
Source quote
In the EU , the job vacancy rate was 2.0% in Q2 2026, down from 2.1% in both Q1 2026 and Q2 2025
- 15.
The Netherlands had the highest job vacancy rate in the EU in the second quarter of 2026 at 4.1%, ahead of Belgium at 3.3%.
Eurostat, Job vacancy statistics (Sep 2026)
Source quote
the highest job vacancy rates in Q2 2026 were recorded in the Netherlands (4.1%) and in Belgium (3.3%), followed by Malta (3.1%) and Austria (2.9%).
- 16.
Canada had 510,200 job vacancies in the second quarter of 2026, little changed from the first quarter.
Statistics Canada, Job vacancies, second quarter 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Job vacancies held steady at 510,200 in the second quarter, following an increase of 13,300 (+2.7%) in the previous quarter.
- 17.
There were 3.0 unemployed people for every job vacancy in Canada in the second quarter of 2026, down from 3.1 a year earlier.
Statistics Canada, Job vacancies, second quarter 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
There were 3.0 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in the second quarter of 2026, unchanged from the previous quarter and down slightly from 3.1 in the second quarter of 2025.
- 18.
Australia had 325,000 job vacancies in August 2026, seasonally adjusted, 0.9% fewer than in May 2026.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
Total job vacancies were 325,000, a decrease of 0.9% from May 2026.
- 19.
Australian job vacancies in August 2026 were 31.2% below their May 2022 peak.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
The level of job vacancies is now 31.2% lower than the series peak in May 2022.
Chart
Job vacancy rates in selected EU countries, Q2 2026
Highest and lowest job vacancy rates among EU countries, not seasonally adjusted, second quarter of 2026.
- Netherlands4.1%
- Belgium3.3%
- Malta3.1%
- Austria2.9%
- Spain0.9%
- Poland0.8%
- Romania0.5%
Source: Eurostat, Job vacancy statistics
Hiring plans and recruiting difficulty
- 20.
69% of US organizations surveyed by SHRM in 2025 were still struggling to fill full-time roles, back to 2016 levels after a 2022 peak.
SHRM, 2025 Talent Trends (Jun 2025)
Source quote
More than two thirds of organizations (69%) are still struggling to fill roles, reflecting 2016 levels after peaking in 2022.
- 21.
41% of US HR professionals surveyed by SHRM in 2026 said they train existing employees for hard-to-fill roles.
SHRM, 2026 Talent Trends (Jun 2026)
Source quote
Over a third of HR professionals (41%) train existing employees for hard-to-fill roles.
- 22.
42% of US HR professionals in SHRM's 2026 survey had difficulty retaining full-time employees in the past 12 months.
SHRM, 2026 Talent Trends (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In the past 12 months, 4 in 10 HR professionals (42%) reported experiencing difficulty retaining full-time employees.
- 23.
Only 62% of the 2,000+ UK employers in the CIPD summer 2026 survey planned to recruit in the next three months.
CIPD, Labour Market Outlook: Summer 2026 (Aug 2026)
Source quote
Of the 2000+ employers surveyed, only 62% of employers plan to recruit over the next three months, with most focusing on maintaining staff levels.
- 24.
57% of UK private sector employers planned to recruit in the next three months, the lowest since CIPD began the measure in 2016 outside the pandemic.
CIPD, Labour Market Outlook: Summer 2026 (Aug 2026)
Source quote
Just 57% of employers in the private sector plan to recruit over the next three months, which is the lowest figure since we began collecting this measure in 2016 (outside of the pandemic).
- 25.
The LinkedIn US hiring rate in September 2026 was 3.4% lower than in September 2025.
LinkedIn, October Workforce Report 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
National hiring was 3.4% lower in September 2026 compared to last year September 2025.
- 26.
LinkedIn US hiring in September 2026 was 22.6% below its February 2020 level.
LinkedIn, October Workforce Report 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
Compared with January 2026, hiring is down 2.8%, and remains 22.6% below its February 2020 level.
- 27.
In August 2026, US job openings on the iCIMS platform were 13% higher than a year earlier while hires rose 2%.
iCIMS, ICIMS Insights: Workers Are Teaching Themselves AI Skills Faster Than Employers Train Them, Raising Stakes for AI-Powered Recruiting and Screening (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Openings were up 13% year-over-year compared with a 2% increase in hires, an 11-point spread that was slightly wider than in July.
Time to hire, cost per hire and applicants per role
- 28.
The median time to fill a nonexecutive role was 39 calendar days in SHRM's 2026 recruiting benchmarking of US organizations.
SHRM, 2026 Recruiting Executives Benchmarking: Attracting Critical Talent (Jun 2026)
Source quote
3: Time-to-fill has decreased to a median of 39 calendar days for nonexecutive positions, but the time-to-fill for executive positions has remained the same as last year.
- 29.
Extra-large US organizations saw median requisitions per recruiter rise 67% in 2026, according to SHRM benchmarking.
SHRM, 2026 Recruiting Executives Benchmarking: Attracting Critical Talent (Jun 2026)
Source quote
Extra-large organizations experienced a 67% increase in median requisitions per recruiter in 2026.
- 30.
Executive hires cost nearly 7 times as much as nonexecutive hires on average in SHRM's 2025 benchmarking data.
SHRM, SHRM Releases 2025 Benchmarking Reports: How Does Your Organization Compare? (Oct 2025)
Source quote
Among the range of findings the research found is that executive hires are, on average, nearly 7x more expensive than nonexecutive hires, which can drive ROI analyses and inform budgeting for leadership recruitment.
- 31.
Time to fill reached 40 days in August 2026 across employers on the iCIMS hiring platform in the US.
iCIMS, ICIMS Insights: Workers Are Teaching Themselves AI Skills Faster Than Employers Train Them, Raising Stakes for AI-Powered Recruiting and Screening (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Time to fill reached 40 days.
- 32.
US job openings on the iCIMS platform drew 30 applicants each on average in August 2026.
iCIMS, ICIMS Insights: Workers Are Teaching Themselves AI Skills Faster Than Employers Train Them, Raising Stakes for AI-Powered Recruiting and Screening (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Applicants per opening fell to 30, leaving employers less room for delays in screening, interviewing and offers.
- 33.
Across 89 million applications in SmartRecruiters data from September 2023 to August 2024, the average role drew 73 applicants, 3 interviews and 1 offer.
SmartRecruiters, Recruiting Benchmarks 2026 (2025)
Source quote
On average, there are 73 applicants per role, 3 applicants interviewed, and only 1 offer made.
- 34.
The global median time to hire was 38 days in SmartRecruiters platform data covering September 2023 to August 2024.
SmartRecruiters, Recruiting Benchmarks 2026 (2025)
Source quote
The global median time to hire is 38 days.
- 35.
The average recruiter on Ashby processed 291 applications per hire in early 2026, up from about 100 in early 2021.
Ashby, Recruiter Productivity | 2026 Talent Trends Report (Apr 2026)
Source quote
The average recruiter today is processing 291 applications per hire, compared to roughly 100 in early 2021.
Job postings and the job seeker experience
- 36.
US job postings on Indeed stood at 103.8 on October 16, 2026, almost 4% above their February 2020 level.
Indeed Hiring Lab, US Labor Market Snapshot — October 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
Job Postings Where we are: Indeed’s JPI hit 103.8 on October 16, pushing overall job postings almost 4% above their February 2020, prepandemic level.
- 37.
US job postings on Indeed were 2.8% higher in mid-October 2026 than a year earlier.
Indeed Hiring Lab, US Labor Market Snapshot — October 2026 (Oct 2026)
Source quote
Sustained momentum in recent weeks has now pushed the JPI 2.8% higher than a year ago.
- 38.
Senior-level US job postings on Indeed were up 14.7% year over year in May 2026.
Indeed Hiring Lab, The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority (Jul 2026)
Source quote
As of May 2026, senior-level job postings were up 14.7% year-over-year.
- 39.
Entry-level roles made up 46% of US job postings on Indeed in 2026, mid-level 40% and senior roles about 14%.
Indeed Hiring Lab, The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority (Jul 2026)
Source quote
Even after the recent uptick, only about 14% of postings are for senior positions nationwide, while entry- and mid-level postings represent 46% and 40%, respectively.
- 40.
About 1 in 6 active US job seekers on Indeed already held more than one job in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Indeed Hiring Lab, Nearly 16% of Active Job Seekers Are Already Working Multiple Jobs (Jun 2026)
Source quote
As of Q4 2025, about 1 in 6 active Indeed job seekers were already holding more than one position at the time of their search.
- 41.
44% of Gen Z respondents in a 2026 LinkedIn survey said not having the right network is the biggest barrier to landing an entry-level role.
LinkedIn, How Graduates Can Find the Best Job Opportunities in 2026 (Apr 2026)
Source quote
According to new LinkedIn data, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, with almost half (44%) of Gen Z saying not having the right network is the biggest barrier to accessing job opportunities and landing an entry-level role.
- 42.
48% of US entry-level job seekers surveyed by iCIMS in 2026 named not hearing back after applying as their top hiring frustration, down from 50% in 2025.
iCIMS, AI Is Reshaping Early Career Hiring Expectations, New ICIMS Data Reveals (May 2026)
Source quote
Communication remains a critical gap: 48% of entry-level job seekers cite “not hearing back after applying” as their top frustration with the hiring process, which is down from 50% in 2025, but still their leading complaint.
- 43.
96% of US candidates who interviewed in Greenhouse's 2026 survey had at least one complaint, most often being ghosted by the employer (45%).
Greenhouse, 6 in 10 Job Seekers Are Rethinking How They Write to Avoid Sounding Like AI, Even as Most Use It in Their Search (Oct 2026)
Source quote
Nearly all candidates who interviewed (96%) had at least one complaint, most often being ghosted by the employer (45%).
Chart
Share of US job postings on Indeed by seniority, 2026
Share of US job postings on Indeed by seniority level, as of mid-2026.
- Entry level46%
- Mid level40%
- Senior14%
Source: Indeed Hiring Lab, The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority
AI and automation in recruiting
- 44.
43% of US organizations used AI for HR tasks in 2025, up from 26% in 2024, according to SHRM.
SHRM, 2025 Talent Trends (Jun 2025)
Source quote
AI adoption in HR tasks climbed to 43% in 2025, up from the 26% reported by HR professionals in 2024.
- 45.
37% of organizations in LinkedIn's 2025 survey of talent professionals were integrating or experimenting with generative AI tools in recruiting, up from 27% a year earlier.
LinkedIn, The Future of Recruiting 2025 (Mar 2025)
Source quote
Adoption among recruiting teams is growing, with 37% of organizations now “actively integrating” or “experimenting” with Gen AI tools, up from 27% a year ago.
- 46.
72% of HR professionals in HireVue's 2025 global survey used AI, up from 58% in 2024.
HireVue, Hirevue’s 2025 AI report shows the majority of HR leaders trust AI hiring decisions (Feb 2025)
Source quote
AI adoption among HR professionals surged from 58% in 2024 to 72% in 2025.
- 47.
77% of HR teams in HireVue's 2026 global survey used AI weekly or daily, but only 41% trusted these systems.
HireVue, 2026 Global AI in Hiring Report (Apr 2026)
Source quote
While 77% of HR teams use AI weekly or daily, only 41% trust these systems.
- 48.
63% of 2,950 active US job seekers surveyed by Greenhouse in 2026 had been interviewed by an AI, up 13 points in six months.
Greenhouse, 63% of Job Seekers Have Faced an AI Interview. Most Haven’t Had a Good One Yet (May 2026)
Source quote
Nearly two-thirds (63%) have now been interviewed by an AI, up 13 percentage points from six months ago, according to the Greenhouse 2026 Candidate AI Interview Report, which surveyed 2,950 active job seekers.
- 49.
51% of job seekers who completed an AI interview in Greenhouse's 2026 survey never heard back from the employer.
Greenhouse, 63% of Job Seekers Have Faced an AI Interview. Most Haven’t Had a Good One Yet (May 2026)
Source quote
Among those who completed an AI interview, 28% moved forward to the next round, while 13% were formally rejected, and 51% never heard back.
- 50.
39% of 3,290 job candidates in a late 2024 Gartner survey said they used AI during the application process.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Shows Just 26% of Job Applicants Trust AI Will Fairly Evaluate Them (Jul 2025)
Source quote
A 4Q24 Gartner survey of 3,290 job candidates found that four in 10 candidates (39%) said they used AI during the application process.
- 51.
6% of job candidates in a 2025 Gartner survey admitted to interview fraud, either posing as someone else or having someone pose as them.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Shows Just 26% of Job Applicants Trust AI Will Fairly Evaluate Them (Jul 2025)
Source quote
A 2Q25 Gartner survey of 3,000 job candidates found 6% admitted to participating in interview fraud — either posing as someone else or having someone else pose as them in an interview.
- 52.
34% of recruiters in Greenhouse's 2025 survey spent up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications, and 91% had spotted candidate deception.
Greenhouse, An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Over nine in every ten (91%) recruiters have spotted candidate deception, and 34% spend up to half their week filtering spam and junk applications.
- 53.
822 distinct US job titles on Indeed mentioned AI in the first quarter of 2026, 8.3% of all titles, up from 264 in 2022.
Indeed Hiring Lab, AI Is No Longer Just a Tech Occupation Story: It’s Spreading Across Job Titles in the US and Europe (Jul 2026)
Source quote
In the US, where AI hiring was highest even before the launch of generative AI, the count dipped from 264 in 2022 (or 2.6% of all titles with at least 5 postings) to 159 in 2023 before climbing steeply to 822 distinct AI-touched titles by the first quarter of 2026 (8.3% of all titles or about 1 in 12 in January-March).
- 54.
81.8% of Australian businesses said AI had no impact on their job vacancies in August 2026, while 3.8% said it had reduced them.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026 (Nov 2026)
Source quote
In August 2026, most businesses reported that there was no impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their level of job vacancies (81.8%), while 3.8% reported that AI had led to a decrease in job vacancies, and 0.6% reported that it had led to an increase.
- 55.
About 12% of AI-using service firms in the New York Fed's 2025 regional surveys said they had hired fewer workers because of AI in the past six months.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Are Businesses Scaling Back Hiring Due to AI? (Sep 2025)
Source quote
about 12 percent of service firms using AI said they had hired fewer workers due to its use in the past six months
Chart
Reported impact of AI on job vacancies, Australian businesses, August 2026
Share of Australian businesses with 5 or more employees by reported AI impact on vacancies, August 2026.
- No impact81.8%
- Unsure13%
- Fewer vacancies3.8%
- More vacancies0.6%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026
Questions readers ask
- How many job openings are there in the US?
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 7.5 million US job openings at the end of September 2026, a rate of 4.5%. Openings averaged 7.1 million a month across 2025.
- How long does it take to hire someone?
- SHRM's 2026 benchmarking puts the median time to fill a nonexecutive role at 39 calendar days, and iCIMS platform data showed 40 days in August 2026. SmartRecruiters reported a global median time to hire of 38 days in its platform data.
- How many applicants does a job posting get?
- It depends on the measure. iCIMS counted 30 applicants per opening in August 2026, SmartRecruiters found 73 applicants per role on average, and Ashby recruiters processed 291 applications per hire in early 2026.
- How many companies use AI in hiring?
- SHRM found 43% of US organizations used AI for HR tasks in 2025, up from 26% in 2024. LinkedIn found 37% of organizations integrating or experimenting with generative AI in recruiting, and HireVue reported 77% of HR teams using AI weekly or daily in 2026.
- Is hiring slowing down in 2026?
- Yes, in most measures. US hires were 5.4 million in September 2026, which Indeed Hiring Lab describes as the slowest hiring pace since 2013, and LinkedIn's US hiring rate was 3.4% lower than a year earlier. UK vacancies fell below 700,000 for the first time since 2021, according to the ONS.
- How much does it cost to hire an employee?
- SHRM's 2025 benchmarking found executive hires cost nearly 7 times as much as nonexecutive hires on average. SHRM does not publish a current dollar cost per hire on its open pages, so budget from your own recruiting spend divided by hires.
How these figures were chosen
We used only primary publishers: national statistics offices (BLS, ONS, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, the Australian Bureau of Statistics), the New York Fed, employer and HR associations (SHRM, CIPD), research firms (Gartner) and companies reporting their own survey or platform data (Indeed Hiring Lab, LinkedIn, iCIMS, Greenhouse, SmartRecruiters, Ashby, HireVue). Each quote was copied from the source page and rechecked on the date shown. Official vacancy measures differ by country, so levels are not directly comparable. Vendor platform figures such as time to fill and applicants per role reflect each vendor's customer base, which skews toward larger or tech employers, and vendor surveys may favor topics the vendor sells into. Monthly JOLTS figures are revised in later releases. Every quote was copied from the publisher's page and re-checked by our source checker. Read the methodology.
Sources
- Ashby. Recruiter Productivity | 2026 Talent Trends Report (Apr 2026).
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. Job Vacancies, Australia, August 2026 (Nov 2026).
- CIPD. Labour Market Outlook: Summer 2026 (Aug 2026).
- Eurostat. Job vacancy statistics (Sep 2026).
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Are Businesses Scaling Back Hiring Due to AI? (Sep 2025).
- Gartner. Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026).
- Gartner. Gartner Survey Shows Just 26% of Job Applicants Trust AI Will Fairly Evaluate Them (Jul 2025).
- Greenhouse. 6 in 10 Job Seekers Are Rethinking How They Write to Avoid Sounding Like AI, Even as Most Use It in Their Search (Oct 2026).
- Greenhouse. 63% of Job Seekers Have Faced an AI Interview. Most Haven’t Had a Good One Yet (May 2026).
- Greenhouse. An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (Nov 2025).
- HireVue. Hirevue’s 2025 AI report shows the majority of HR leaders trust AI hiring decisions (Feb 2025).
- HireVue. 2026 Global AI in Hiring Report (Apr 2026).
- iCIMS. ICIMS Insights: Workers Are Teaching Themselves AI Skills Faster Than Employers Train Them, Raising Stakes for AI-Powered Recruiting and Screening (Sep 2026).
- iCIMS. AI Is Reshaping Early Career Hiring Expectations, New ICIMS Data Reveals (May 2026).
- Indeed Hiring Lab. September 2026 JOLTS Report: Eerily Quiet (Nov 2026).
- Indeed Hiring Lab. US Labor Market Snapshot — October 2026 (Oct 2026).
- Indeed Hiring Lab. The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority (Jul 2026).
- Indeed Hiring Lab. Nearly 16% of Active Job Seekers Are Already Working Multiple Jobs (Jun 2026).
- Indeed Hiring Lab. AI Is No Longer Just a Tech Occupation Story: It’s Spreading Across Job Titles in the US and Europe (Jul 2026).
- LinkedIn. October Workforce Report 2026 (Oct 2026).
- LinkedIn. How Graduates Can Find the Best Job Opportunities in 2026 (Apr 2026).
- LinkedIn. The Future of Recruiting 2025 (Mar 2025).
- Office for National Statistics. Vacancies and jobs in the UK: October 2026 (Oct 2026).
- SHRM. 2025 Talent Trends (Jun 2025).
- SHRM. 2026 Talent Trends (Jun 2026).
- SHRM. 2026 Recruiting Executives Benchmarking: Attracting Critical Talent (Jun 2026).
- SHRM. SHRM Releases 2025 Benchmarking Reports: How Does Your Organization Compare? (Oct 2025).
- SmartRecruiters. Recruiting Benchmarks 2026 (2025).
- Statistics Canada. Job vacancies, second quarter 2026 (Sep 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover, September 2026 (Nov 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026).
How to cite
Link to this page or to a single figure. Name the original publisher where you can.
KeenVerdict. (2026, November 6). Hiring Statistics 2026. https://keenverdict.com/hiring-statistics
Questions or corrections: editorial@keenverdict.com. Next scheduled review: January 5, 2027.