What is time-to-hire and why is it important?

What Is Time-to-Hire? Time-to-hire refers to the number of days between a candidate’s application [...] One of the most important metrics in your hiring process is time-to-hire.

2024 Recruiting Trends to Expect (Part One)

In 2024, nearly 60% of U.S. companies plan to add new permanent positions, with key recruiting trends including a significant increase in employee upskilling to expand skillsets, alongside upcoming focuses on automation, AI integration, hybrid work models, and more entry-level hiring, as detailed in a five-part series by Allie Blackham on ApplicantStack.

2024 Recruiting Trends to Expect (Part One)

Jan 16, 2024

Applicant Tracking, HR and Recruiting Industry Information, Recruiting Best Practices

Allie Blackham

Part One: An Increase in Upskilling

Is your company planning to hire in 2024? If so, you’re among the nearly 60 percent of businesses that expect to add new permanent positions in the first half of the year. This number comes from the State of U.S. Hiring Survey, conducted by Robert Half, a talent solutions and business consulting firm. Another 39 percent of respondents reported anticipating hiring to fill vacant positions.

As you gear up for recruiting processes and efforts, take a look at what you can expect this year. We’re rounding up the 2024 recruiting trends to expect among companies of all sizes.

Recruiting Trends Coming in 2024

Here’s what we’ll cover in our five-part series:

1.An Increase in Upskilling
2.The Value of Automation
3.More AI in Recruiting
4.Hybrid Work Shifts
5.More Entry-Level Hiring

Trend #1: Increase in Upskilling

Upskilling is a trend in the workplace that involves expanding an individual’s skillset and abilities. In the past, college grads went into roles feeling like they had the skills needed to perform their duties. But in today’s fast-changing workplace, needs shift and people take on all different roles, particularly when working in startups or establishing their own companies.

In the recruiting world, upskilling is important because it gives potential new hires a glimpse into what they can expect in a role. Providing opportunities to learn and develop additional skills is essential in any workplace, as doing so can contribute to improved retention. Among jobseekers, more than half report wanting to work in a place where they have access to learning and development programs.

Another advantage of upskilling is that it can make existing employees more qualified to take on new roles. If you have a star team member who is reliable, supportive and willing to work hard, why not help them move up and continue to bring their existing talents to your workforce? Offering the chance to learn new skills and become more ready to take on additional responsibilities will only help your business.

According to a survey of CEOs across the globe, more than 90 percent of company leaders who introduce upskilling opportunities see significant benefits. Some of these include improved talent acquisition, higher employee retention rates, increased productivity, and a workforce that includes resilient individuals.

By investing in upskilling, your company may be able to attract more talented individuals and retain those who are interested in improving their abilities. It’s a trend that likely won’t be going anywhere soon, so jump onboard and look for ways to help employees, whether new hires or seasoned staff members, in their efforts to grow and advance.

Keep an eye on our blog as we cover the next four 2024 recruiting trends to expect. Next up: the value of automation in hiring.

Allie Blackham

Latest posts by Allie Blackham ( see all)

How to Reduce Time-to-Hire Effectively - September 16, 2026
Seasonal Hiring Playbook: Scaling Your Workforce for Q4 - September 9, 2026
All About the AI Application Flood: How Small HR Teams Can Keep Up - September 2, 2026

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One of the most important metrics in your hiring process is time-to-hire. Discovering where your company experiences delays and bottlenecks can help you apply best practices to shorten the metric overall. Consider some of the ways to attack this problem head-on. What Is Time-to-Hire? Time-to-hire refers to the number of days between a candidate’s application […]

Allie Blackham|Jul 15, 2026

Onboarding a new employee benefits both them and the company. Implementing a robust onboarding procedure not only makes new hires feel welcome, but it creates an important bond of trust that affects retention rates. Consider evaluating ways to improve your company’s onboarding process. What Is Onboarding? Onboarding is the step that follows job acceptance: it’s […]

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Allie Blackham|Sep 9, 2026

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Allie Blackham|Aug 26, 2026

The hiring process takes time and money, both of which can be tight in small business budgets. When a candidate ghosts you at any stage, it can be demoralizing and expensive. Here are some ways to keep communication flowing to avoid being abandoned by quality prospects. What Is Candidate Ghosting? Ghosting refers to a scenario […]

Allie Blackham|Aug 19, 2026

Hiring new employees is no small task: it takes hours of company time and money to recruit, interview, and select top talent. Once you’ve got a new employee on board, you want to turn that hiring investment into a good experience for both of you. That’s where onboarding comes in. Read on for some effective […]

Allie Blackham|Aug 11, 2026

When someone walks out your office door for the last time, they’re taking valuable insights with them. The question is: will you capture those insights before they’re gone forever? An exit interview represents one of the most underutilized opportunities in business. Done right, it can reveal blind spots in your management, uncover systemic issues, and […]

Allie Blackham|Aug 5, 2026

Building an effective hiring process from scratch involves identifying your company’s needs and setting a path to find quality applicants. By examining past hiring practices and implementing new strategies, you can build a more efficient process. Read on for some ways to create a hiring process that gets results. Primary Elements of the Hiring Process […]

Allie Blackham|Jul 29, 2026

The need for high-volume, non-exempt roles in the retail, food service, and healthcare support sectors often outpaces companies’ abilities to hire quickly. In these busy industries, shifts can run 24 hours, and turnover is frequent, creating a challenge for hiring managers. If degree or experience requirements are creating a barrier to finding quality candidates, consider […]

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