SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SignalHire, a leading provider of contact intelligence solutions for recruiting, sales, and talent acquisition teams, has released internal data showing a significant decline in traditional recruitment positions between 2024 and 2025. This shift in the recruitment landscape indicates a fundamental change in how companies approach talent acquisition, and job seekers must adapt their strategies accordingly.
According to an analysis of SignalHire’s 850M+ professional database, there has been a substantial decrease in demand for standard recruiting titles. This includes roles in recruitment operations and management, traditional sourcing positions, and general recruiting, which has seen a notable contraction. However, not all categories have declined equally. Executive/Leadership Recruiting has actually seen a 15.56% increase, and Campus/Early Careers Recruiting has grown by 11.11%. This suggests that companies are still actively hiring for strategic positions while reducing their reliance on generalist roles.
This shift in the recruitment landscape is also being driven by the increasing use of applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems are creating unprecedented barriers for job seekers, with major corporations receiving an average of 250 applications per open position. The ATS filters out approximately 75% of these applications before any human review takes place. In contrast, job seekers who reach out directly to recruiters via email are receiving interview invitations at a rate almost three times higher than those who rely solely on job board applications.
What does this mean for job seekers? According to SignalHire’s analysis, they should consider targeting growth areas such as Campus and executive recruiting roles, which show higher demand and are more receptive to direct outreach. Job seekers should also adjust their expectations when applying for traditional recruiting roles, as these positions are facing higher volumes relative to open positions, making personalized applications critical. Finally, job seekers may want to consider alternative pathways, such as reaching out directly to hiring managers, as companies downsize their recruitment teams.
About SignalHire:
SignalHire provides contact intelligence solutions with over 850M professional profiles for recruiting, sales, and talent acquisition teams worldwide. For media inquiries regarding this analysis, please contact press@signalhire.com or visit https://www.signalhire.com.
Media Contact:
Mary Ivory
SignalHire Sp. z o. o.
+1 209-437-3846
info@signalhire.com
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