Employers spend longer choosing which candidate to hire amid rising costs and a surge in applications - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

"Employers are taking longer to choose who to hire as they balance tighter recruitment budgets, and a surplus in applications, with a renewed focus on finding the right people to drive growth, according to new research from Totaljobs. The average time it takes for employers to hire someone after first publishing a vacancy has risen to 8 weeks, with larger businesses now taking up to 9 weeks to fill roles."

"The more cautious approach to recruitment reflects a continued slowdown in the labour market as employers tackle increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions. Recent ONS data shows that unemployment rose to 4.7% in September while vacancies dropped below pre-pandemic levels, prompting hiring decision-makers to take extra time to ensure they make the right investment. According to Totaljobs' survey of 900 HR leaders and 2,000 candidates, over half (56%) of recruiters say they are struggling to secure sufficient recruitment funding."

"With one in three workers (32%) planning job moves in the new year, this trend looks set to continue into 2026. Recruiters now receive an average of 22 applications per vacancy, with technology increasingly helping them manage the influx. Over three-quarters (77%) of recruiters believe AI can improve hiring efficiency, and a quarter (25%) are already using automation tools for CV screening, interview scheduling, and feedback delivery."

Average hiring timelines have lengthened to eight weeks overall and up to nine weeks for larger businesses, compared with 4.8 weeks last year. Slower recruitment reflects labour-market weakness amid National Minimum Wage and National Insurance increases, rising unemployment (4.7% in September), and vacancies below pre-pandemic levels. A Totaljobs survey of 900 HR leaders and 2,000 candidates finds 56% of recruiters struggling for recruitment funding. One in four businesses has increased temporary and freelance hiring. Recruiters receive around 22 applications per vacancy, 77% believe AI can boost efficiency, and 25% already use automation for screening and scheduling. Finding candidates with the right skills remains a top challenge.

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