Hiring speed under scrutiny as candidate engagement declines

November 13, 2025

New report shows candidate engagement declining amid stagnant hiring times

HR leaders are being urged to underscore the importance of hiring speed as a new report indicates that stagnant hiring times are bringing down candidate engagement.

The latest iCIMS Workforce Insights report revealed that applications dropped by seven per cent between September and October as the time to fill vacancies remained unchanged at 39 days in the US labor market.

It noted that while applicants per opening are up year-over-year, recent months have seen a dip in application activity as employers remain cautious in their decision-making.

"Competition for open roles is up, but steady hiring pace and employer caution may be cooling candidate momentum," the report read.

It underscored the need for chief human resources officers (CHROs) to help hiring managers understand that speed in hiring is important.

"If the slow hiring is the result of business direction, reassess the openings and priorities to help your teams focus on quality hiring," the report read.

"Labor market demographics are shifting, changing not just how but where you recruit. Make sure your hiring teams are ready to adapt their approach."

Stagnant hiring times

The unchanged time-to-fill days indicate that employers are remaining "cautious and deliberate" when it comes to their hiring decisions, according to the report.

In the manufacturing sector, time-to-fill went up from 40 to 42 days.

The slower hiring times come despite job openings going up 14% year-over-year, and applications per opening increasing to 47 year-over-year.

Trent Cotton, Head of Talent Acquisition Insights & Analyst Relations, iCIMS, said the data indicates that the problem is process friction and not pipeline scarcity.

"Candidates are applying, but few are moving through efficiently," Cotton said in a statement.

The impact is felt in the gradual decline in monthly applications per opening, which went down to 47 in October from the peak in March.

"For manufacturing recruiters, the edge will go to those who treat hiring like production: measure throughput, eliminate bottlenecks, and keep talent moving," Cotton said.