Dive Brief:
- More than 2 in 5 U.S. hiring managers (43%) said it’s taking longer to fill open positions than it did two years ago, with 26% reporting that it takes at least four weeks “when factoring in resume reviews, interviews and final decisions,” according to survey results released Aug. 12 from Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll.
- Meanwhile, hiring managers said an average 21% of open roles are closed without being filled. In addition, more than 1 in 4 hiring managers said 27% of their available positions “go unfilled entirely.”
- Notably, 44% of hiring managers surveyed said their organization has jobs it cannot fill. This percentage is significantly up from the 36% who reported this in fall 2025 and marks the highest level recorded since fall 2023.
Dive Insight:
The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals conducted an online survey of more than 1,000 U.S. hiring managers, and separately conducted an online poll of 1,000 job-seeking adults who were either employed and looking for a new job or not employed.
Results found that despite the prolonged timelines, companies “appear to be conducting fewer interviews before making a decision.” Hiring managers also reported that candidates went through an average of four interviews before getting a job offer, down from five in spring 2023.
The process has frustrated job seekers, per the report.
Almost a third of people looking for work (31%) said that going through an automated hiring process “instead of feeling heard by people” was challenging. An additional 31% also said they think companies “are claiming to hire but only collecting resumes to review,” which impedes their job search. More than 1 in 5 added that open positions were being given to artificial intelligence, which they said also impacted their ability to find a job.
“Hiring has become more complex, and employers are working to balance speed, quality and the right fit,” Bob Funk Jr., CEO of Express Employment International, said in a statement. “Technology can help streamline the process, but it delivers the greatest value when paired with thoughtful, human interaction.”
Hiring managers should understand that an applicant’s hiring experience could be just as critical as the role itself, per the report.
Funk said that because of this, communication is more important than ever.
“When the process is clear and timely, employers can keep business moving, and candidates can better understand whether an opportunity is the right fit,” Funk said.
The survey results come amid new data analysis from Challenger, Gray and Christmas that found month-to-month U.S. job cuts were down 27% between June and July. Year-over-year layoffs were down 46%, and July posted the lowest monthly total recorded layoffs in two years, although job losses have continued, especially in the technology sector.
Meanwhile, workers report dissatisfaction with their current roles; Eagle Hill Consulting’s Employee Retention Index indicated that employees may be less likely to stay at their jobs over the next six months. That report found that workers were frustrated by their salaries and optimistic about the possibility of a better job elsewhere. Despite strong retention rates right now, Eagle Hill said the labor market is about to see “increased workforce mobility.”