Talent News Round-Up: Hiring Outlooks, Consumer Branding, and Anti-DEI Legislation
Staying updated on the latest workforce trends is crucial for TA leaders and HR professionals. This week, we delve into three significant developments shaping the talent landscape and get SocialTalent CEO, Johnny Campbell’s first-hand takes on these pieces.
- Our first article is from SHRM and explores the potential for a strong hiring outlook in the US in Q4. The overall tone seems to be one of cautious optimism for 2025.
- Next, we dive into a report from iCIMS about how more than half of people are less likely to be a consumer of a brand following a negative job application. Just another string to the bow for the importance of candidate experience, no?
- And finally, HR Brew dig into how all the recent anti-DEI legislation is undoing so much of the progress made and could have devastating impacts on the diversity within talent pipelines.
Join us as we explore these pivotal insights and their implications for the future of work.
1. US Employers Report Positive Hiring Outlooks for Q4
Source: SHRM
The U.S. reports a strong hiring outlook for Q4 2024, particularly in the technology sector, despite a global hiring slowdown. According to ManpowerGroup, American employers remain cautiously optimistic, with IT roles driving demand. A Robert Half survey revealed that 52% of U.S. employers plan to add new positions, and 43% aim to fill vacancies. Economists expect slow labor market growth into 2025, influenced by interest rates, fiscal policies, and geopolitical uncertainties.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“So I think this is news we already knew. The market overall for recruiting is suppressed but slowly getting better. 2025 will be better again but nobody is quite sure when in 2025 we’ll see the lift. Will it be immediately after the US election in November or will we need a couple of more interest rate reductions? Do you know what is certain though? It’s damn hard to get good talent to move jobs right now! You don’t need an economist to tell you that!“
2. More than Half of People Are Less Likely to be a Consumer of a Brand Following a Negative Job Application Experience
Source: iCIMS
The iCIMS 2024 Talent Experience Report reveals that 51% of people are less likely to be a consumer of a brand after a poor job application or interview experience. As candidate expectations rise, recruiters are leveraging AI to streamline processes, saving time and improving satisfaction. With 70% of job seekers expecting the hiring process to take three weeks or less, AI-powered tools like iCIMS’ platform are enabling faster, more efficient, and engaging candidate experiences across industries.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“OK so if you ignore all the heavy advertising for iCIMS product in this press release, there’s some great stats on candidate experience that could help you make the business case for prioritising a speedier hiring process! Also of interest is that candidates are twice as likely to use AI than recruiters!! We need to get our act together to keep up folks!“
3. How Anti-DE&I Legislation Could Limit the Talent Pipeline and Impact Corporate Diversity
Source: HR Brew
The end of affirmative action and the rise of anti-DE&I legislation in many states could have significant long-term effects on corporate diversity. Experts warn that underrepresented groups may face greater barriers in both education and employment, shrinking the talent pipeline and increasing isolation at work. Without race-conscious admissions, enrollment of students of color has already dropped at some universities, and corporate diversity may similarly decline. Employers must continue investing in inclusion to avoid fostering inequitable work environments.
Johnny Campbell’s take on this:
“The impact of the Supreme Court decision last year relating to college admissions is still being felt throughout corporate America with many, wrongfully, thinking that they can now scrap their inclusive hiring practices. In Europe and other parts of the world we’ve never had affirmative action and the DEI movement remains relatively strong. I can only hope that we can undo some of the devastating reversals in strategy that we have seen in the last few years.“