iCIMS July Workforce Report: Cooling U.S. momentum meets rising global competition

July 22, 2025

 

Amy Byrnes

4 min read

This month’s Workforce Report highlights the uneven pace of hiring across global markets. While application activity is high across regions, the outcomes vary. For talent teams, the challenge is twofold: manage rising applicant volumes while navigating different hiring tempos by region.

This month’s report explores:

• How the UK and EMEA are ramping up hiring while the U.S. begins to stall
• Why application volumes are up, but time-to-fill is still too slow
• The Gen Z surge across Europe, and what employers can do about it

U.S. Hiring cools despite continued candidate interest

In the U.S., job seeker interest remains strong compared to 2024. Applications were up 14% year over year in June but they remained at 34 month over month. However, hiring fell 1%, even as job openings climbed 7%. It’s the second straight month of declining application volume, hinting that candidates may be experiencing application fatigue as employer response remains tepid.

Time to fill hasn’t improved either. Despite a 21% increase in applicants per opening (from 28 to 34), average time to fill rose from 39 to 40 days. The friction between high interest and low conversion could mean inefficiencies in the recruiting process or continued caution by hiring managers to make a decision. It’s a situation that may be causing job seekers to hit pause too. “Although APO climbed from 28 to 34 year over year, the number held steady from May to June, suggesting the candidate influx may be leveling off or even easing,” says Trent Cotton, Head of Talent Acquisition Insights & Analyst Relations at iCIMS.

EMEA markets signal growth, led by the UK

The EMEA region is moving in the opposite direction. Hiring is up 8% year over year, job openings jumped 19%, and applications remain 28% higher than this time last year. In the UK specifically, hires surged 36%, and job openings increased 15%.

Importantly, UK employers are filling roles faster than their EMEA counterparts. They’ve brought their average time to fill down to 40 days, while the rest of the region lags at 50 days. That speed, paired with rising candidate interest, could suggest the UK is regaining its hiring momentum or it could be due to seasonal hiring.

Applicant competition rises, especially across EMEA

Across the EMEA region, applicants per opening (APO) rose from 37 to 49 year over year, a 32% jump. In the UK, APO increased from 33 to 43. These are clear signs that while candidate pipelines are robust, the battle for visibility is intensifying.

With more job seekers in play, recruiters would be wise to prioritize both candidate communication and operational efficiency to avoid losing top talent to faster-moving competitors.

Gen Z dominates Europe’s talent pipeline

Early-career talent is prominent in the EMEA job market. In France, 67% of applicants are aged 18–24, and in the UK, that figure is 46%. This surge creates a unique opportunity for employers to invest in onboarding, mentorship, and upskilling programs.

However, despite Gen Z’s enthusiasm, outcomes aren’t matching expectations. UK grads are facing the toughest job market since 2018, with rising demand but limited offers. Employers that take the lead on entry-level hiring will benefit from a motivated, highly engaged generation. That is, if they can close the gap between interest and action.

Looking ahead

Across the global labor market, one thing is clear: Interest is not the issue. Employers are posting jobs. Candidates are applying. But in many regions, the U.S. especially, hiring decisions are lagging behind. This disconnect is a signal to talent leaders. It’s time to reassess the recruiting funnel, address process choke points, and double down on high-intent candidate engagement.

From high applicant volume to global Gen Z momentum, the opportunity is there. The question is, are teams moving fast enough to seize it?

Get the more insights like these by downloading the full July 2025 Workforce Report.