2025 State of Frontline Hiring Report

Demand for candidates is high, but the hiring flow is broken. Get the market insights and guidance you need for hiring that can't wait.


Get the full Frontline Hiring Report

Get the full Frontline Hiring Report

Fixing the leaky bucket

Frontline hiring is urgent, but the problem hiring managers face today is not applicant volume, it’s the process itself. This report shows a clear disconnect between what hiring managers perceive as the biggest challenge and what workers actually want – and will serve as your playbook to break bottlenecks, fix the flow and hire quality frontline talent faster.

 

Key findings

Urgent demand defines frontline hiring

91% of frontline hiring managers say the need to fill open roles is urgent

Hiring managers focus on quality

62% cite quality of candidates as the top challenge when hiring workers right now

But candidates want a better process

60% started but didn’t finish an application. The top reason: too lengthy/time-consuming

Now is the time to listen

69% of workers say employers always or sometimes ignore what candidates want in the hiring process

Explore insights tailored to your industry

Healthcare

Healthcare has the highest urgency to hire

96% of hiring managers say their need to fill open roles is urgent

What candidates want

52% want faster communication

Where there’s a gap

35% of hiring managers say faster offer approvals would speed hiring

Hospitality

Interview no-shows are highest in hospitality

26% have skipped an interview. The most common reason? 38% say they “got another job”

What candidates want

50% want faster and clearer communication

Where there’s a gap

52% of hiring managers who say their process isn’t meeting expectations say it’s because the process is too lengthy

Manufacturing

Applicant quality is the sharpest challenge

74% of hiring managers rate applicant quality as the top challenge

What candidates want

49% said a shorter hiring process would make applying easier

Where there’s a gap

45% of hiring managers said better applicant quality and 32% said AI tools would help the process

Retail

Retail has the lowest job-fit rate

Only 9% of respondents say they always find suitable jobs, making it the lowest job-fit rate of any industry

What candidates want

36% cite a lack of posted pay

Where there’s a gap

46% of hiring managers say they could improve hiring with better applicant quality

Get the full Frontline Hiring Report