US Hiring Stalls as Automated Filters Alienate Candidates

The recruitment landscape is fraying at both ends. Companies report that 21% of open positions are shuttered without ever being filled, a direct consequence of a hiring process that has become both slower and more detached. While 43% of managers note that time-to-hire has stretched, the number of interview rounds per candidate has paradoxically dropped to an average of four, down from five in 2023.

This friction creates a significant disconnect for applicants. Roughly 31% of job seekers report that navigating automated hiring portals leaves them feeling unheard, with many suspecting that companies are merely harvesting resumes rather than actively recruiting. These systemic hurdles are compounded by persistent mismatches in qualifications and a growing anxiety that artificial intelligence is actively reducing available opportunities. Bob Funk Jr., CEO of Express Employment International, suggests that while technology should theoretically streamline the search, it often strips away the human interaction necessary to confirm a candidate’s fit. Without a return to clearer, more personal communication, the report suggests that both employers and talent will continue to lose ground in an increasingly complex labor market.