Call Sales +44 808 164 2563
 

2025 State of UK Frontline Hiring Report

Demand is high but the flow is broken. Get the inaugural report to learn how perceptions differ between frontline workers and hiring managers and how leaders can fix the flow.


Get the full Frontline Hiring Report

Get the full Frontline Hiring Report

Fixing the leaky bucket

Frontline hiring is urgent in the UK, but the problem decision makers face today is not applicant volume: it’s the process itself. This report shows a clear disconnect between what decision makers 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.

Snapshot

Urgent demand defines frontline hiring

95% of UK frontline hiring managers say the need to fill open roles is urgent

Hiring managers focus on quality

71% cite quality of candidates as the top challenge

Candidates want a better process

76% started but didn’t finish an application; the top reason: lengthy/time-consuming (47%)

Now is the time to listen

77% of workers say employers “always” or “sometimes” ignore what candidates want

Explore insights tailored to your industry

Hospitality

Candidate quality is the top challenge

76% cite candidate quality, followed by interview no-shows (30%), limited budget (27%), and turnover (26%)

What candidates want

50% want an easier application process; 34% want faster and clearer communication; 34% want a shorter hiring process

Where there’s a gap

79% of hiring managers believe their process meets expectations, but 78% of workers say their needs go unnoticed

Early exits

88% abandoned an application; 62% skipped an interview without notice, mainly due to poor communication (29%)

Retail

Retail lags on speed

72% cite lengthy processes as the top reason candidate expectations go unmet

What candidates want

51% value pay, 48% reliable hours, 32% job location

Where there’s a gap

Only 12% of workers always find suitable jobs; 46% say sometimes, 26% say occasionally

Need for speed

72% accepted a job offer within 48 hours; 53% waited 1–3 weeks or up to 1–2 months to hear back

Get the full Frontline Hiring Report