In Q4 2023, nearly a quarter (24%) of employees in the U.S. reported being recently recruited by another organization, according to research by Gallup. While this percentage has changed little since 2021, it’s up from 19% in 2015 and reflects an increase in recruiters targeting employees who aren’t necessarily looking for a new job.
When asked how the company found them, half of recruited employees cited online professional networking sites like LinkedIn (up from 39% in 2015), 31% said word of mouth, and 21% said online job sites and search firms. However, those who were recruited through job boards (70%) and professional networking sites (61%) were far more likely to leave their job for the new offer than those recruited through traditional word of mouth (56%), proving the effectiveness of digital recruiting methods.
This makes clear and descriptive online job postings crucial for attracting applicants. For 59% of employees, the factor with greatest influence over their decision to apply was how well the job description aligned with their skills and interests. The company’s mission and purpose (17%), workplace culture (16%), and online reviews (8%) carried far less weight.
