Recruitment Trends in 2018

These top 5 potential recruitment trends are taken from the HR Review magazine.

Diversity

As candidates and employers become acutely aware of subconscious bias and gender coded language, increased diversity attraction and training are becoming key focuses for HR teams. Fostering workplace diversity makes business sense for all employers as they realise the importance of addressing these biases in the recruitment process. As such, many will invest heavily in 2018 to ensure they have diversity practices in place and that their employer brand is inclusive to all.

HR Tech thrives and evolves

Over the last year we’ve seen far greater adoption of new HR tech than ever before, and the technology will only improve over the course of 2018. As the platforms available to in-house teams become even more sophisticated, incorporating new technologies such as AI, Chatbots, and machine learning, the benefits of investing into new technology will become increasingly evident. These systems also lend themselves to data driven recruitment practices, and allow HR times to evaluate and improve the hiring process.

Blockchain makes its mark

Blockchain was one of the most talked about technologies in 2017, but this year will see the technology – which underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin – make its mark on the recruitment sector. This year we begin to see new applications for the technology gain traction such as blockchain verified CVs. Verified CVs, or ‘Intelligent Profiles’ store every aspect of a career profile on a blockchain making the CV verified at the beginning of the hiring process for employers.

Employer branding is crucial

How best to attract passive candidates is a reoccurring topic of conversation among HR teams and recruitment leaders, and as we look to 2018, employer branding will be invaluable. Cultivating a strong employer brand is no longer a ‘nicety’ but an absolute necessity. Recruiters and in-house teams both need to expand the number of channels to promote company culture; employee advocacy to target candidates – potentially before they’ve even started searching for a new role.

Targeted candidate attraction

As the digital skills gap widens in a number of sectors, sourcing the right candidate for a role can become incredibly difficult. Recruiters and HR teams looking to find the best candidates with the right skillsets will need to target previously untapped niche communities. New entrants including Facebook and Google, have realised the opportunity of using their reach for hiring. Niche jobsites that attract specific communities will continue to offer targeted value.

The gig economy expands

In recent years the gig economy has altered the nature of the recruitment market, with 1.1 million people in the UK now ‘employed’ within the gig economy – nearly as many people as who work for the NHS. HR teams will have to look for new ways to attract candidates with vastly different job profiles, skillsets and, experience, to other potential candidates.

Compliance is key

As GDPR enters force in May 2018, organisations across Europe, and the rest of the globe, will have to comply with stricter data privacy laws – more than ever before. The fragmented nature of the recruitment sector in the UK means that often candidate’s personal data is passed between multiple parties during the hiring process. Recruitment companies will have to work on best practice to ensure they comply with the new law, and it will be interesting to see how the industry works together to implement these new practices. One thing is certain – candidate transparency will be essential.

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