Study finds jobseekers losing trust in hiring and employers feeling the pain

Too many scams, too much ghosting, and artificial intelligence (AI) that’s out to get them—those are just a few perceptions making jobseekers frustrated. Not too many years ago, jobseekers were more confident in finding employment. And they didn’t hesitate to leave a job not exactly to their liking because they felt they could quickly find a better opportunity. But recent research shows that has changed. Why, and what should employers do about it?

Jobseekers’ frustrations

In March and April, recruiting solutions provider Employ surveyed 1,500 U.S. adults who are working full-time or part-time or are actively seeking work. Those results reached a conclusion employers should find alarming: Trust in the hiring process is breaking down.

More than half of candidates surveyed say they’ve run into job postings they believe were scams. Over a third feel they’re being filtered out by AI, not human beings, and almost a third claim they’ve been ghosted.

The Employ research chronicles employee and jobseeker behavior over the last several years. Back in 2020 and 2021, people left their jobs in droves—a phenomenon dubbed the “Great Resignation.” But by mid-2023, hiring slowed and layoffs increased, leading more workers to join the “Great Stay.” Even though more workers were staying in their jobs, the Employ report says people remained open to new opportunities, and many were actively looking for their next job.