New data from LinkedIn highlights a growing struggle in the recruitment landscape, with 61% of UK workers planning to seek new roles in 2025. However, 54% of job seekers and 79% of HR professionals report that the hiring process has become increasingly challenging.
Despite a surge in job applications, 41% of candidates submit more applications but receive fewer responses. Meanwhile, 42% of HR professionals state that less than half of the applications they review meet the listed job requirements.
Adding to the strain, 23% of recruiters spend between three and five hours each day reviewing applications, underscoring the inefficiency in the current hiring process.
The evolving nature of skills and roles
The evolving nature of job roles and skills is a key factor contributing to this disconnect. LinkedIn’s data shows that nearly 55% of positions on the UK’s Jobs on the Rise list didn’t exist 25 years ago. The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), has driven a 300% increase in global AI talent recruitment over the past eight years.
These shifts are expected to transform the skills needed for jobs, with projections indicating that 70% of job roles will significantly change by 2030.
Janine Chamberlin, head of LinkedIn UK, said: “With work and hiring changing so rapidly – the skills needed for jobs are expected to change 70% by 2030 – businesses must find a way to bridge any gaps within their organisations.
HR professionals face significant hurdles in finding candidates with the necessary technical and soft skills, with 49% and 42% citing these as top challenges, respectively. The skills gap is becoming more pronounced, as 61% of HR professionals acknowledge a mismatch between jobseekers’ skills and those required by their organizations.
To streamline the hiring process, nearly half (45%) of HR professionals believe that access to advanced hiring technologies, including AI-driven tools, would accelerate recruitment. In comparison, 67% think it would simplify the process.
Many employers focus on upskilling their existing workforce in response to the widening skills gap. Priorities include soft skills, AI, and sustainability, with 68%, 65%, and 64% of employers planning to invest in these areas.