Optimism runs high in the recruitment industry Optimism runs high in the recruitment industry. Expectations for revenue, budgets, investments, and placements in 2019 are all higher than they were heading into 2018. Most respondents anticipate an increase in 2019 revenue versus 2018. Just 2.5 percent of respondents expect to see revenue decrease in the year ahead. Link: Insight 1 —Top Priorities https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Placements and investments are set to soar in 2019 Placements and investments are set to soar in 2019. Less than 5 percent of respondents expect to see decreases in temp placements, budgets, tech spending, efforts to reskill workers, and VMS business. Link: Insight 1 —Top Priorities https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Organic growth is the industry’s primary growth strategy in 2019 Organic growth is the industry’s primary growth strategy in 2019. Only 8 percent say they expect to grow by acquiring new companies and even fewer (2.5 percent) expect to be acquired. Link: Insight  3—Primary Growth Strategy https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/

Candidates will matter most in 2019, with sourcing (61%) and candidate engagement (36%) leading the pack. Beyond candidates, priorities diverge.   Link: Insight 1 —Top Priorities https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Beyond the perennial skills shortage, recruitment leaders grapple with how to get employers to increase candidate pay rates and how to mitigate attrition and turnover caused by a booming job market. Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Pricing pressure and margin compression are always big challenges, but respondents say the top operational challenge they’ll face is how to embrace digital transformation to improve operations. Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

The job market’s healthy and low unemployment rates reflect that, which explains why many respondents say low unemployment is the top challenge for the year ahead. 30% of recruitment professionals believe their will be a recession in 2019.   Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Respondents say sourcing, gathering requirements from clients, and back-office administration are the trickiest parts of the recruitment lifecycle. Respondents also selected candidate sourcing as an area where staffing professionals need more training and development. Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Recruiters say Millennials are the most difficult generation to reach and engage followed by Post-Millenials (Gen Z). The easiest generation to reach and engage? Baby Boomers. Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

People are the heart of recruitment and they’re at the center of the challenges respondents say they face when it comes to meeting their goals: candidates, clients, and internal staff. Link: Insight 2 —Top Challenges https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Respondents overwhelmingly believe digital transformation—the integration of technology into all areas of a business for the purposes of improving operations and the way companies deliver value to customers—will be a benefit to their business. Link: Key Findings https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/global/

Most respondents say globalization and the increased mobility of talent is an opportunity for their business. Link: Insight 5 —Globalization https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/

The jury’s out on whether online talent platforms are helping to make things easier, but sentiment signs point to a belief that they’ll have a more helpful than harmful impact. Link: Insight 6—Online Talent Platforms https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/

Respondents are in agreement about opportunity gaps, reskilling, and digital transformation. Recruitment professionals are undecided on topics like diversity and the chance of a recession. Link: Insight 7 —Sentiment Analysis https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/

Respondents think fellow industry professionals would benefit most by having additional training on social media, how to use technology to automate manual processes, and how to manage clients and build relationships.   Link: Insight 1 —Top Priorities https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/insights/setting-the-stage-for-2019/

Respondents are most interested in artificial intelligence and how it relates to automation and the recruitment industry. Industry pros are also very interested in the impact of social media, digital marketing, the gig/freelance economy, and VMS. Link: Key Findings https://grid.bullhorn.com/uk/key-findings/global/