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 Â
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.