20% of U.S. employers plan to slow hiring in the second half of 2025
62%
A Resume.Org poll finds 62% of workers believe AI could run entire hiring processes by the end of 2026. Currently, 57% of U.S. companies use AI in recruitment, with 74% planning to expand its use. Top applications include resume review (79%), candidate assessments (66%), and interviews (34%), though 71% of companies still maintain human oversight.
20%
Nearly 20% of U.S. employers plan to slow hiring in the second half of 2025—almost double last year’s rate. The CHRO Confidence Index slid from 59 to 54, while job seekers now face an average of 24 weeks to land new roles. Healthcare, retail, and tech are among the sectors with the sharpest hiring slowdowns. Many employers cite economic uncertainty and AI-driven automation as reasons to curb workforce expansion.
70%
About half of Gen Z and Millennial employees hesitate to share their AI use at work, with 47% fearing it could replace them. Meanwhile, 63% use personal apps for work, 70% feel overwhelmed by workplace tech, and only 16% feel they have a say in the tools their company adopts. This gap highlights the need for companies to rethink tech policies, training, and adoption strategies.
57%
A LiveCareer report shows 57% of jobseekers abandon applications mid-process due to complicated procedures. While 64% feel their CVs are ATS‑optimized, only 10% believe all applications are reviewed, with 41% estimating less than 25% are seen. Additionally, 35% report never hearing back, highlighting the need for streamlined hiring and strategic use of AI.
7.4M
A survey of 121 - U.S. employers covering 7.4 million lives finds healthcare costs are expected to rise by a median 9% in 2026, up from 8% this year. GLP-1 medications for obesity and diabetes are driving costs, with 72% of employers citing them as a major factor and 79% seeing increased demand. Despite this, 64% of large employers now cover GLP-1s, while 84–85% plan broader cost-control measures like vendor RFPs before reducing coverage.