Indeed Reveals Strategies to Navigate Hiring in 2024

Over the last year, the labor market has taken some unexpected turns – though perhaps not as devastatingly as was originally predicted. As 2024 approaches, understanding these shifts will be crucial to building a formidable talent acquisition strategy and maintaining a competitive edge.

The recently released 2024 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report by Indeed offers valuable insights to assist organizations in not just surviving but thriving in the uncertainties of the upcoming year. Reasons for cautious optimism are explored within the report, providing a nuanced perspective on the current job market dynamics. The report offers an informative assessment of the challenges organizations encountered in 2023 and explores the potential opportunities for the upcoming year. In the ever-evolving landscape of talent acquisition and recruitment, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve.

Challenges Behind, So Ahead

As we explore the key insights provided by the Indeed 2024 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report, a snapshot of the current employment landscape comes into focus.

According to the report, as of early November, the Indeed Job Postings Index declined 22.5% from its peak on December 31, 2021. This decline coincides with a widespread reconsideration of staffing plans by employers, prompted by factors such as slowing economic growth, shifting consumer demand, and higher interest rates.

The turbulence of 2023, marked by a decrease in job postings and overall demand for workers, could be an indicator for the year to come. As such, the growth and level of job openings in 2024 will serve as a critical indicator of economic health. A decline in hiring or an increase in layoffs could signify challenges in the market and for recruiters. Monitoring these changes will be essential for strategic planning.

An Aging Workforce

The demographic landscape of the United States is poised for significant changes that hold implications for recruiters.

Last year, the U.S. labor force experienced robust growth, exceeding previous averages, with a notable increase in the participation rate of workers aged 25-to-54. This surge, driven by consistently high demand for workers and a rebound in immigration, has played a pivotal role in sustaining the labor force.

Still, the labor force in the U.S. is aging rapidly, leading to a decline in the pool of available workers. In order to counteract this effect, the workforce will need “a tremendous surge” of immigration to counteract the long-term effects, Indeed said.

Foreign interest in U.S. job postings has increased since the pandemic, with about 4% of clicks on job postings coming from outside the country in September 2023, up from roughly 2% four years prior. However, foreign interest seemingly plateaued over the past year.

Talent Retention and Churn

Despite the conclusion of the Great Resignation, job mobility remains high. Indeed found that the quits rate in September was 2.3%, close to the pre-pandemic level but still strong by historical standards. With that in mind, it’s clear: workers feel more comfortable leaving their job and finding new positions when the unemployment rate is low.

On top of that, data from Indeed showed that job seekers are increasingly interested in job postings outside their current field. For example, the proportion of civil engineers that looked at alternate job postings reached 85%, up 9% from 2019.

As such, retaining talent will need renewed effort, requiring strategic initiatives to engage and satisfy employees. Simultaneously, recruiters must adapt their strategies to connect with candidates who are increasingly open to switching roles.

New Means of Attraction

New challenges also emerge as wage growth cools down. According to the latest data from the Indeed Wage Tracker, posted wages in October were up 4.2% from a year prior, down from 4.8% in July, and well below the January 2022 peak of 9.3%. This shift is attributed to falling demand for workers in conjunction with increased labor supply and lower quit rates.

While, according to Indeed, this will hopefully lead to lower inflation rates, it will also mean that recruiters and hiring teams will need to find new ways to attract top talent.

The Indeed Hiring Lab has observed a growing prevalence of salary transparency within job postings in the U.S. This emerging trend holds the potential to be a crucial factor for staying competitive and appealing to qualified candidates in 2024, offering a saving grace for recruiters navigating the changing dynamics of the job market.

With AI in our Midst

With the recent implementation of AI – and more notably generative AI – into the everyday lives of workers, tracking the continued growth will be imperative. In early 2023, job postings referencing generative AI were minimal but experienced a significant 20 times increase by October alone. According to Indeed, these technologies have great potential to reconfigure a wide variety of jobs, and potentially create many more new jobs.

While the long-term effects are still unknown, there’s little doubt that generative AI could reshape the labor market completely. Recruiters should recognize the opportunities presented by this growth, both in terms of job creation and the integration of AI technologies into various industries.

In the midst of the ever-changing hiring scene in 2024, recruiters need to embrace a holistic approach. As our work landscape undergoes a transformation, tapping into vital insights becomes crucial. These insights will guide the evolution of recruitment practices, helping organizations navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the coming year.

Authors

William Tincup

William is the President & Editor-at-Large of RecruitingDaily. At the intersection of HR and technology, he’s a writer, speaker, advisor, consultant, investor, storyteller & teacher. He's been writing about HR and Recruiting related issues for longer than he cares to disclose. William serves on the Board of Advisors / Board of Directors for 20+ HR technology startups. William is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a BA in Art History. He also earned an MA in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.