Businesses looking to grow in 2025 may also be hiring new employees. As your company prepares to hire or retain employees in 2025, here are the big hiring trends to watch for.
The use of AI is becoming more prevalent
Artificial intelligence is helping recruiters streamline the hiring process, taking on tasks from resume screening to scheduling to even conducting entire interviews. In fact, in a survey from ResumeBuilder.com, more than half of respondents believe AI will eventually replace human hiring managers.
Despite the growth of AI in HR, many businesses are still navigating the best way to use this technology. Gartner’s research found that 55% of HR leaders report their current technologies don’t meet evolving business needs. Rather than implementing an AI tool that delivers a short-term gain, leaders in 2025 will be looking for technology that simplifies and streamlines the hiring process while boosting long-term results.
A strong EVP should highlight the reasons to join an employer and stick around, but it should not just be a list of selling points.
Jacob Zabkowicz, Vice President & General Manager of Global RPO at Korn Ferry
Skills-based hiring will redefine recruitment
Skills assessments emerged as a way to improve diversity hiring, speed up the hiring process, and manage high-volume hiring events. Since then, skill-based hiring has only become more prevalent. “Research shows that 90% of organizations using a skills-based hiring method report reducing their mis-hires, and 94% agree that skills-based hiring is more predictive of on-the-job success than resumes,” wrote ADP.
Yet, hiring teams surveyed by Korn Ferry report that finding candidates with the right skills remains one of their top two challenges. “[Many] are unsure of how to define critical skills, which is often the first step in the shift away from traditional hiring methods,” reported the consulting firm.
Skills-based hiring requires a different approach than traditional recruitment processes have used in the past. And, in 2025, we will see more recruiters shifting their approach to define the critical skills needed for each role—both personal and professional skills—and integrating different types of assessments and interview styles to get a clearer picture of those skills.
Employer branding is evolving
Employer branding emerged as a key trend for recruiters in 2023, when businesses started to recognize the power of employer branding not just for hiring, but also for selling. Data shows that your employee experience directly impacts your customer experience.
However, employer branding in 2025 will require more than creating a few video testimonials for social media. Today’s job candidates—and customers—are savvy about assessing a company’s culture. They’re looking for meaningful, authentic employee value propositions.
An employee value proposition (EVP) encapsulates the values, rewards, recognition, support, and company culture an employer gives employees, enabling them to do their best work and achieve their highest potential. Companies that live up to their promised EVP see higher retention, better productivity, and better performance.
“A strong EVP should highlight the reasons to join an employer and stick around, but it should not just be a list of selling points,” Jacob Zabkowicz, Vice President & General Manager, RPO, Global at Korn Ferry. “If you are recruiting for retention, then the EVP needs to align directly to the organizational vision, mission, purpose and values—to attract new employees with the right cultural and motivational fit.”
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