Every staffing leader has an opinion on which sourcing channels work best. But until now, there’s been limited benchmark data to compare performance across the industry.
StaffingHub’s new Sourcing Effectiveness Benchmark Report changes that. We analyzed 88,000 placements and gathered insights from 1,500 job seekers to understand where agencies are finding candidates, and which channels deliver the strongest ROI.
Here’s what the data shows.
Referrals lead on ROI perception
When we asked agencies which sourcing channel delivers the best ROI, referrals came out on top: 23% of agencies cited referrals as their highest-ROI channel, more than any other source.
This isn’t surprising to agencies that have invested in referrals. Referred candidates come pre-vetted by people you trust. They leverage existing relationships rather than competing for attention on crowded platforms.
The gap between having a channel and optimizing it
Most (91% of) agencies report having some form of referral program. But only 24% have automated or advanced programs. The majority (52%) describe their programs as basic or informal.
Similarly, ATS/CRM rediscovery accounts for 16% of placements on average, making it the second-largest source. And 57% of agencies say they plan to expand these efforts, suggesting most haven’t fully tapped the potential.
Across the board, 62% of agencies indicate their owned channels are not yet scaled or optimized.
Job boards remain a workhorse, with cost pressure ahead
Job boards continue to drive volume, accounting for 24% of placements on average. They remain an essential part of most agencies’ sourcing mix.
However, 76% of agencies expect job board prices to increase over the next 12 months. This is driving interest in diversifying sourcing strategies, not abandoning job boards, but complementing them with channels that don’t carry the same cost trajectory.
AI adoption is high, but measurement lags
The data revealed that 83% of agencies are using AI or automation in their sourcing processes. However, 48% say it’s too early to tell whether these initiatives are improving results.
This suggests a measurement gap. Agencies are adopting new tools faster than they’re building the analytics infrastructure to evaluate them.
What this means for your agency
Agencies that scale their owned channels, particularly referrals and ATS rediscovery, while others are still in “basic/informal” mode, gain a sourcing advantage.
This doesn’t require abandoning what’s working. It means taking channels you likely already have and optimizing them systematically.
The full report includes channel-by-channel benchmarks, budget allocation patterns, and a seven-step action plan.
