Future-proofing recruitment through automation

Key insights:

• In both Germany and the UK, a significant increase in competition for skilled workers is placing immense pressure on recruiters.
• Surprisingly, the majority of recruiters in both countries lack access to automated solutions, thus exacerbating their workload.
• By automating routine tasks, recruiters can potentially save 10 to 12 hours per week, enabling them to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Candidates consider streamlined application processes to be pivotal in their job selection.

Labor market dynamics in Germany and the United Kingdom

According to the German Federal Employment Agency’s monthly report for September 2023, unemployment and underemployment have decreased in the wake of the autumn resurgence. At the same time, the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) forecasts a labor force reduction of over 7 million individuals by 2035. These developments present mounting challenges for HR managers. For instance, the average time taken to fill vacancies, i.e., the period between the desired hiring date and the actual job commencement, stood at 154 days in September of the current year. In the UK, although vacancy numbers have declined recently, they remain just under 1 million in the third quarter, which is still 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels. Companies report increasing difficulties in filling open positions, and this is further exacerbated by the need to offer higher salaries to offset rising living costs in the UK.

Increasingly overwhelmed: It’s time for companies to bolster recruiter support

More than half of the recruiters in Germany have been aware of the growing competition for skilled workers for over two years. In the UK, this awareness has only been present for one to two years. Nevertheless, today, eight out of ten recruiters in both countries acknowledge the growing competition for skilled workers. On the one hand, the pressure to fill the open positions is mounting, as well as vacancy periods (68% in the UK, 81% in GER) and recruiters’ workload (40% UK, 67% GER). On the other hand, candidates in Germany appear to be more optimistic, with 43% reporting improved job opportunities compared to previous years.

Recruitment processes are underdigitized – automation can save recruiters 10 to 12 hours weekly

How can recruiters alleviate their workload, expedite processes, and enhance candidate experience? Our survey revealed that, on average, recruiters spend 11 hours per week on manual tasks, such as crafting job advertisements or sending application receipt confirmations – tasks, that could be automated to free up time for their core activities, such as conducting job interviews, employee development, or internal consulting. Shockingly, 86% of the surveyed recruiters in Germany and 68% in the UK are still scheduling job interviews manually.

While automation has been a significant trend in recruiting for years, its implementation still lags behind. 60% of the recruiters primarily wish for the automation of basic tasks, such as sending automated application receipt confirmations (43% in UK, 64% in GER) or sending reminders (32% in UK, 51% in GER). There is also a strong desire for solutions that automatically check the completeness of job applications (35% in the UK, 45% in GER).

A quicker and more efficient application process benefits candidates and recruiters

On average, job search in Germany takes three months, while in the UK, the average is around two months. Expectations and reality often diverge, as every second candidate anticipates prompt feedback on their application, yet frequently receives it later than expected.

Furthermore, during their most recent job search, two out of five candidates in Germany had to choose between two or more potential employers. A quarter would favor the employer with a faster and more straightforward application process, even if other factors at the alternative employer were more favorable. In total, 66% of the candidates say that an efficient application process influences their decision significantly. In the UK, proponents of automated recruitment processes on the company side point to time savings (46%) and resource efficiency (28%).

Download our free fact sheets for Germany and the UK here.

Conclusion and recommendations

Our survey underscores heightened competition in the labor market, leaving recruiters contending with mounting workloads and prolonged vacancy periods. Encouragingly, automation presents a viable remedy, especially for streamlining routine tasks, potentially liberating 10 to 12 hours of a recruiter’s weekly schedule. Candidate feedback emphasizes the pivotal role of efficient communication, as prompt responses significantly enhance the hiring process and bolster candidate contentment. To stay competitive, companies should allocate resources towards automated solutions and adopt a candidate-centric approach.