---
title: "The Hiring Shift: Why 2018 Is The Year Of The Candidate Market"
description: Low unemployment and a robust economy have formed what is known as a ‘candidate market’ – a situation where there are more job openings than there are qualified candidates. This creates a cutthroat job market for employers, who must compete for a limited number of suitable applicants.
image: https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/hubfs/Webp.net-resizeimage%20(32).jpg
---

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# The Hiring Shift: Why 2018 Is The Year Of The Candidate Market

![Candidate Market](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webp.net-resizeimage%20(32).jpg?width=800&name=Webp.net-resizeimage%20(32).jpg)

Low unemployment and a robust economy have come together to form what is known as a ‘candidate market’ – a situation where there are more [job openings](https://jobs.sparksgroupinc.com/jobs) than there are qualified candidates. This creates a cutthroat job market for employers, who must compete for a limited number of suitable applicants.

Just last month, the U.S. jobless rate dropped to 3.7%1 - the lowest in almost thirty years. This, along with a strong overall economy, has created a talent shortage that is being felt across industries and individual businesses.

## How Companies are Impacted by the Candidate Market

As companies seek to improve outcomes in an increasingly complex business environment, more positions are being created, further increasing the number of open positions. For example, 69% of companies plan to increase [marketing recruitment](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/client/what-creative-companies-should-look-for-in-marketing-recruitment-agencies) in 2018 – a 20% increase from the prior year.2  

A recent survey of over 3,000 executives found that 92% of respondents have found that the talent shortage has had a negative impact on their company in areas such as productivity, [employee retention](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/client/how-to-build-an-employee-retention-plan), and job satisfaction.3

The same survey found that while companies are improving their appeal to job seekers with competitive salary packages (43%) and promoting company culture (48%), the main reason for voluntarily leaving a job was for career progression.

While offering [competitive employee compensation](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/client/the-ins-and-outs-of-competitive-employee-compensation) is an important part of inviting qualified candidates to an open position, money alone is not enough to attract new employees (and retain existing employees). Instead, organizations must recognize what employees are looking for from a company and use that knowledge to present themselves to applicants in the best possible light.

Follow these tips to hire top talent in a challenging candidate market:

### 1. Company Reviews

Glassdoor estimates that 83% of job seekers are likely to research a company online, checking reviews and ratings from current and former employees, when deciding to apply for a new job.4

### 2. Benefits & Perks

A survey from Randstad found that 94% of employees want the benefits offered by employers to have a meaningful impact on their quality of life, including paying off student loans and other debts or offering flexible work arrangements.5

The benefits that appeal most to job seekers include health insurance (75%) and retirement planning (21%). The perks that most interest candidates are early Friday releases, flexibility and remote working opportunities, onsite amenities like gym access, and unlimited vacation time.

Related: [4 Employee Incentive Programs That Improve Productivity](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/client/employee-incentive-programs-that-improve-productivity)

### 3. Corporate Social Responsibility

One way to set your company apart from the competition for job seekers is to publicize and promote the [company culture](https://blog.sparksgroupinc.com/client/tips-for-incorporating-company-culture-into-your-recruiting-process), particularly any efforts at corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is becoming a more important consideration for job seekers, particularly millennials, who comprise a greater portion of today’s workforce than any other age group.6

A recent study7 found that 55% of job seekers would take a lower-paying job at a company with a good reputation for CSR, and for millennials, that number rises to 75%. 58% of all job seekers and 76% of millennials consider a company’s CSR commitments when deciding where to work; and 51% of all job seekers – 64% of millennials – would refuse to work for a company that does not have strong CSR commitments.

Filling open positions in a candidate market is a complicated prospect for today’s employers. Competition is fierce for a limited pool of qualified candidates, and that is only expected to grow. The Global Talent Crunch study from Korn Ferry found that the current shortage of skilled workers in the US could worsen, resulting in a loss of $1.748 trillion across industries.8 The expectation is that the market will remain candidate-driven for the foreseeable future; so now is the time for businesses to improve their appeal to job applicants.

While following the above tips can help businesses attract and retain employees, finding qualified talent is still a challenge as more companies are competing for the same candidates. Working with a staffing and recruiting firm, like [Sparks Group](https://sparksgroupinc.com/find-talent/staffing-and-recruiting-services/), as a strategic hiring partner can help your company attract the top talent needed to fill your available positions.

Sparks Group is a full-service staffing and recruiting firm that understands the core values of your business to personalize our hiring approach. We specialize in placing exceptional talent in full-time, temporary, or contract positions in diverse industries and companies to streamline your hiring process and help your business grow.

[Request a consultation with a staffing and recruiting expert](https://sparksgroupinc.com/find-talent/connect-with-a-staffing-and-recruiting-expert/) to learn how Sparks Group can help you attract and hire top talent in a competitive candidate market.

---

Sources:

1\. https://www.npr.org/2018/10/05/654417887/u-s-unemployment-rate-drops-to-3-7-percent-lowest-in-nearly-50-years  
2\. https://mckinleymarketingpartners.com/2018/03/the-candidates-market-in-2018/  
3\. http://www.hays.com/press-releases/hays-survey-shows-skills-shortage-will-challenge-us-employers%E2%80%99-ambitious-growth-plans-2104620  
4\. https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/6-hr-recruiting-stats-you-need-to-know-for-2018-and-beyond/  
5\. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-benefits-of-benefits-why-employers-cant-afford-inadequate-workplace-perks-300668407.html  
6\. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/11/millennials-largest-generation-us-labor-force/  
7\. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56b4a7472b8dde3df5b7013f/t/58174ca82994ca5361d910a3/1477921965887/Millennials-Infographic\_FINAL.jpg  
8\. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502005330/en/Korn-Ferry-Study-Reveals-Global-Talent-Shortage%C2%A0Could

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