top of page
Search

Hiring is rebounding in 2025 – but for creative agencies, a smooth ride isn’t guaranteed.

Thanks to insights from our friends at Recruiter, plus new data from Symphony Talent and Gem , we’re seeing a clear trend: demand for talent is rising — but so are the pressures on internal recruitment teams.

Here’s what the numbers are telling us:

  • 53% of organisations plan to increase hiring in 2025

  • Only 41% will grow their Talent Attraction budgets, and 30% will keep them flat

  • Recruiter headcount has dropped from 31 in 2022 to 24 in 2024

  • Each recruiter is now managing 56% more roles and 2.7x more applications

  • Time to hire has increased by 24% since 2021

  • Interviews per hire have risen by 42%

  • Candidate passthrough rates are down — it's now 3x harder to get hired than in 2021

  • Job boards account for 49% of applications, but only 24.6% of hires

  • Sourced candidates are 5x more likely to be hired than inbound applicants

  • Rediscovered talent from CRMs/ATS makes up 44% of hires (up from 29.1% in 2021)

The biggest challenges Talent Attraction teams are facing.

  • Time-consuming, manual processes (43%)

  • Misalignment with hiring managers (20%)

  • Outdated or limited tech (19%)

  • Shortage of skilled candidates (40%)

  • Candidate ghosting or drop-offs (31%)

  • Difficulty reaching the right audience (31%)

Diversity hiring - still a work in progress. Women see lower passthrough rates at early stages but are more likely to receive offers later in the process. Racial and ethnic disparities persist, with outcomes varying significantly across

industries and functions. Conversion rates have dropped across the board — a clear sign that more focused, inclusive strategies are needed.

So, what does this all mean for creative agencies?

Your internal teams are stretched. Recruitment processes are getting longer. And with tighter budgets and high client expectations, speed and quality are both harder to maintain.

That’s where we come in.

At Royall , we specialise in helping creative and events agencies navigate exactly this landscape. We offer:

  • Fast access to pre-qualified creative talent

  • Hiring support that flexes with your needs

  • A strong track record in increasing team diversity – including successfully placing skilled, visa-based talent often overlooked

  • Insights to help you make confident, strategic hiring decisions

  • Smart sourcing — not just fast, but effective, through deep networks and the right tech

Growth is back — but the way you hire needs to keep pace. “As agencies gear up for growth in 2025, the real advantage won’t come from hiring more — it’ll come from hiring better.

With stretched teams, reduced pitch times, longer recruitment cycles, flat budgets, and a shifting talent landscape, smart recruitment is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive edge.” says Jennifer Royall - Founder 

If you’re planning ahead and need a recruitment partner who understands your world, we’d love to support you, chat with our Founder Jennifer Royall - Founder 

 



 
 
 

コメント

bottom of page