Sense, the market leader in AI-driven talent engagement solutions for enterprise recruiting, released its “2024 State of Staffing Report”—an in-depth analysis of the major goals and challenges that will impact the staffing industry this year. The report is based on a 25-question survey completed by 131 staffing professionals representing over 19 verticals.

“Recruiting and staffing are constantly evolving and it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with what’s on the minds of those who are at the forefront of our industry,” said Sense Co-Founder Pankaj Jindal. “The findings of our ‘2024 State of Staffing Report’ are illuminating and we invite everyone to explore the insightful data and trends shared by the more than 130 survey respondents.”

Key findings from Sense’s “2024 State of Staffing Report” include:

• Growth is on the horizon – A resounding 92% of staffing firms anticipate growth in 2024, indicating a positive outlook for the industry.
• Client acquisition is the top goal – Staffing leaders are prioritizing new client acquisition—with 63% citing it as their top organizational priority for the year.
• Recruiters face multiple challenges – Time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, and candidate drop-off all increased in the past year, presenting a wide array of challenges for recruiters.
• Candidate communication preferences are shifting – Text messaging has emerged as the most effective candidate communication channel with 45% of respondents preferring it over traditional methods like phone and email.
• AI is transforming staffing – 75% of staffing leaders are already using AI in their operations. A significant 41% believe AI will completely transform how recruiters attract and engage talent in the coming years.
• Word-of-mouth drives business growth – Client referrals are the top source of new business for staffing firms, emphasizing the importance of building and leveraging positive relationships.