2025 Staffing Outlook: AI Insights and a Strong Start to the Year

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Strong start to the year

With a strong start to the year, we joined ClearlyRated’s webinar, “The Year Ahead in Staffing: From AI to Z.” After two years of industry challenges, experts are forecasting renewed growth in 2025. Growth, for organizations that can successfully navigate uncertainty, changing demographics, and emerging technologies.

 

Here are two key insights to help anyone hiring gain a better understanding of the current market for staffing:

 

Key insight #1: There’s a disconnect between employers’ and job seekers’ attitudes toward the use of AI in the recruitment process.

 

ClearlyRated reports that 65% of employers are optimistic and curious about the year ahead for AI, with the remaining 18% feeling concerned and 17% feeling ambivalent about the evolving tech. On the other hand, job seekers’ attitudes toward AI were split across the board. A disconnect between employers’ and job seekers’ attitudes toward AI in recruitment may stem from differing perspectives on its impact. While employers focus on operational efficiency or technical advancements, job seekers are often concerned about fairness, human connection, and genuine interaction in the hiring process.

 

In a poll asked during the webinar, “Which of the following trends do you think will have the biggest impact on your business?” participants responded as follows:

 

  • A recovery in the broader staffing industry (40%)
  • AI tools making my business more efficient (32%)
  • A tight labor market making hiring difficult (20%)
  • Increased offshoring and automation by clients (7%)
  • The impact of online platforms (UpWork, etc.) on staffing (1%)

 

Besides a little market recovery, one fundamental element contributing to success is our commitment to our values. For EDI Staffing, success comes from consistently prioritizing relationships and integrity at every step of the recruitment process. For over 30 years, emotional intelligence, meaningful conversation, and interpersonal skills have been factors of our process that are irreplaceable by AI.

 

“Texting remains a key way to get your foot in the door when you’re not getting responses to your calls and emails. But to retain top talent, you can’t rely on just texting; you still need to build a relationship, and verbal conversation is always the best way of doing that.” Brian Long, Recruiter @ EDI Staffing

 

Many organizations are adopting AI into their recruitment processes. While streamlining your process and automating repetitive tasks has many benefits, we are careful not to stray from our mission.

 

Key insight #2: Employers are off to a strong start in 2025.

 

BLS stated there were 256,000 new jobs added in December (see December Employment Recap). According to Monster + CareerBuilder, active job postings have surged by 20% in just week one of 2025. Industry experts are closely watching to see if this momentum will be sustained throughout the rest of Q1. To keep the momentum going, it’s important to meet the needs of both hiring managers and candidates. Brian believes that candidates are still looking for remote or hybrid work arrangements; and “allowing this flexibility in a rapidly growing digital landscape is becoming the biggest ‘benefit’ for hiring and, more importantly, retaining talent.” Adaptability from both sides plays a critical role in attracting and keeping top talent. So, as a small business, being responsive to evolving workforce trends is essential to supporting our clients and helping them achieve their goals.

 

ASA and its partner, ClearlyRated, used data from Monster + CareerBuilder for this webinar. To learn more please visit their websites or watch the recording.

 

Looking to find work or hire talent? Contact us and let us know how we can help. 

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