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2026 State of the Recruiting Industry Survey
As a recruiter, your input is
critical
as we look for ways to improve our services and the relevance of the content we produce. Please take 5 to 10 minutes to answer this brief survey.
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1.
To receive the results of this survey, please provide your email address.
(Required.)
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2.
How long have you been a recruiter?
(Required.)
Less than five years
Between 6 and 10 years
Between 11 and 15 years
Between 16 and 20 years
Between 21 and 25 years
Over 25 years
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3.
How many recruiters work in your agency?
(Required.)
Just me
2-3
4-9
10+
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4.
With approximately how many clients has your agency made placements in 2025?
(Required.)
1-3
4-6
7-10
11 or more
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5.
How many placements will you personally make in 2025?
(Required.)
1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
More than 30
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6.
What will be the cash-in total for your recruiting desk in 2025?
(Required.)
Less than $100K
$100K to $200K
$200K to $300K
$300K to $400K
$400K to $500K
Over $500K
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7.
How will your overall cash-in total for 2025 compare to 2024?
(Required.)
Up more than 25%
Up 1% to 25%
The same
Down 1% to 25%
Down more than 25%
None of the above
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8.
Which industry/niche will
most
of your placements come from in 2025?
(Required.)
Accounting/Finance
Engineering
Manufacturing
Information Technology
Legal/Auditors
Human Resources
Healthcare
Business Professionals
Executives
Hospitality/Food/Retail
Other (please specify)
9.
Which tools constitute your "tech stack"? This includes an applicant tracking system (ATS) and/or any software that you use during the lifecycle of the recruiting process, from sourcing to placement.
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10.
Are you looking to switch your applicant tracking system (ATS) or recruiting software provider in 2026?
(Required.)
Yes, definitely!
Maybe, I don't know yet.
You might be able to convince me to do so.
Definitely not!
Please comment here regarding your answer:
11.
Would you like more information about TE Recruit, Top Echelon’s all-new ATS and CRM for agency recruiters and search consultants?
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12.
How often do you use artificial intelligence (AI) tools on your recruiting desk?
(Required.)
Every day
A couple of times per week
Every once in a great while
Never!
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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13.
What has been your
primary
method of marketing your services in 2025?
(Required.)
Outbound marketing phone calls
Marketing emails
Social media sites
Your website
Print marketing/direct mail
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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14.
Which of the following avenues has received the
best
response rate for advertising your jobs in 2025?
(Required.)
LinkedIn
Top Echelon Job Posting
Indeed.com
ZipRecruiter
Email blast to candidates in my database.
I do not advertise my jobs.
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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15.
Where have you found your
highest quality
candidates in 2025?
(Required.)
Referrals
Cold calling
Internet job board postings
LinkedIn
My internal database/website
Another source
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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16.
What has been the
biggest
client complaint that you've heard about candidates during the past year?
(Required.)
There aren’t enough quality candidates from which to choose.
Candidates have unrealistic expectations.
Candidates are still "ghosting" during the hiring process.
Candidates are turning down offers.
Some other complaint
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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17.
What has been the
biggest
candidate complaint that you've heard about employers during the past year?
(Required.)
The employers do not communicate or are unresponsive.
The employers do not respect their time and/or confidentiality.
Marathon interview sessions and/or too many rounds of interviews.
Attempts to low-ball candidates on the offer.
The hiring process is drawn out and/or convoluted.
Some other complaint
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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18.
What has been your biggest problem with candidates in 2025?
(Required.)
Getting to them to consider an opportunity due to market conditions
Counter-offers
"Ghosting"
Fall-offs
Not able to find enough qualified candidates
Some other problem
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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19.
What has been your biggest problem with clients in 2025?
(Required.)
Fewer search assignments than in recent years
Lack of timely feedback
Taking too long to extend an offer
Taking too long to pay an invoice
Some other problem
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
20.
Please identify the three biggest pain points or sources of stress on your recruiting desk as of today.
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21.
What is your
highest
business priority for 2026?
(Required.)
Adding new income streams
Recruiting in a new niche
Sourcing higher quality candidates
Finding new clients
Getting search assignment from new clients
Getting more search assignments from current clients
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
22.
Would you like more information about TE Network, Top Echelon’s recruiting network with 1,500 job orders and seven (7) million candidates for helping agency recruiters and search consultants make more placements?
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23.
What is the biggest threat to the recruiting industry?
(Required.)
LinkedIn
Artificial intelligence
The economy and job market
There is NO threat to the recruiting industry.
Other (please comment here regarding your answer):
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24.
What do you believe will happen with the economy in 2026?
(Required.)
Things will get much better.
Things will get slightly better.
Things will stay pretty much the same as they are now.
Things will get slightly worse.
Things will get much worse.
Please comment here regarding your answer:
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25.
Which letter grade would you give to the recruiting industry in terms of its overall health as of right now?
(Required.)
A
B
C
D
F
Please comment here regarding your answer:
26.
If you’d like, please tell us about your current recruiting experience, your view of the industry, your fears or excitements about the future, etc.
