Reports

State of Candidate Experience 2025

By Yasmin Howell
March 10, 2025
10 min read

The acceleration of AI in recruitment, shifting labour market conditions, and the evolving needs of next generation talent have reshaped how businesses attract and engage future employees.

In 2024, we saw candidates become more discerning, expecting personalised and transparent hiring experiences. Employer branding, engaging candidate content, and seamless digital interactions are no longer nice-to-haves; they are essential to securing top talent.

Employers now face a dual challenge: balancing efficiency through AI-driven recruitment processes while maintaining human-centric hiring practices. According to LinkedIn’s Future of Recruiting Report 2024, 68% of talent professionals believe AI will significantly impact hiring, but many remain cautious about over-reliance on automation. Meanwhile, skills-first hiring continues to gain traction across the world, with companies prioritising competencies over traditional credentials.

As we look ahead to 2025, the question for businesses is clear: how can they adapt to these trends to build a more resilient and candidate-centric hiring strategy? To uncover the answers, we surveyed thousands of candidates, examining their experiences, behaviours, and outlooks for the coming year.

Yasmin Howell
Head of Customer Experience
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