The hiring process is becoming more time-consuming and costly, and 93% of hiring managers say it takes longer in 2025 than just two years ago, according to a June 18 report from Robert Half, a talent solutions and business consulting firm.
Hiring managers responding to a survey said the time has lengthened to evaluate candidates’ applications, check references, conduct background checks and schedule and conduct interviews.
“In today’s environment, companies need to strategically evaluate and streamline their hiring process — especially when staffing multiple roles,” said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. “With more applications coming in for time-sensitive positions, hiring can feel overwhelming.”
In the survey of nearly 2,200 U.S. hiring managers, 92% said it’s challenging to find skilled talent. Hiring plans have slowed slightly in 2025, with 57% planning to expand their teams during the second half of the year, dropping from 63% six months ago.
In addition, 30% of hiring managers said they’ve made a hiring mistake in the past two years, which 57% said contributed to additional turnover. The most common mistakes included not properly assessing technical skills and not evaluating a candidate’s cultural fit.
“In a market where there’s less margin for error, hiring mistakes can be detrimental to team morale and growth,” Fay said. “When existing team members need to compensate for lost productivity, it can lead to burnout, disengagement and employee turnover.”
To streamline hiring and avoid errors, employers can set clear timelines and deadlines before posting a job and communicate with team members throughout the process, the report recommended.
Tracking different hiring performance metrics can provide insight as well, HR experts told HR Dive. Since “time to fill” measures the days it takes to fill an open position, companies can understand the efficiency of their recruitment process and whether long gaps could affect team productivity and morale.
Employers can also revamp their hiring process by looking at where their talent acquisition efforts fail, according to a Society for Human Resource Management workshop; Rethinking metrics, such as recruiting capacity, applicant quality, hiring sources and costs of hiring sources, can help.
The most important part of the hiring process may be the interview, according to a Gallup report. Employers can make improvements by approaching interviews with structure, treating candidates with respect and highlighting their culture and value to employees, Gallup said.
