Employers struggling to find skilled workers may be driving candidates away with lengthy and complex application processes, according to a new report from Totaljobs.

The Hiring Trends Index, which surveyed 1,000 UK hiring decision-makers and 3,000 workers, found that candidates are spending an average of 42 minutes on each application – just short of the 53 minutes they consider “too long”.

With skills shortages persisting across industries, hiring remains a challenge for businesses. The report found that 67 percent of employers cite finding the right skills as their biggest concern. Confidence in securing the right talent has fallen, with only 66 percent of businesses believing they will be able to hire the skills they need this year, down from 74 percent last year. The average time to hire has also increased, now standing at 5.1 weeks, rising to 5.6 weeks for businesses with 250 or more employees.

Despite these hiring challenges, nearly half of job seekers (49%) said unclear job descriptions deter them from applying, while 45 percent would abandon an application that takes too long to complete.

Job Seekers Seek Speed and Convenience

The report highlights a shift in candidate expectations, with many seeking faster and more streamlined hiring processes. Three in five candidates (58%) now prefer to apply for jobs on their smartphones. A majority (77%) said they are more likely to complete an application if it takes less than 10 minutes.

For interviews, 53 percent of candidates said they would prioritise roles that offer video interviews to avoid travel costs. Additionally, 60 percent of candidates would be open to using AI chatbots to assist with applications, highlighting a growing preference for technology-driven hiring solutions.

Candidates also expect greater transparency throughout the hiring process. Seventy-five percent want automated updates at every stage of their application and 72 percent expect to hear back within one week of applying.

Employers Urged to Modernise Hiring Processes

Julius Probst, European Labour Economist at Totaljobs, spoke of the need for businesses to update their recruitment strategies.

“If we really want our economy to grow, legacy hiring practices need a full reappraisal. Businesses are missing out on finding the right people because of cumbersome processes that were set up decades ago and haven’t evolved with the habits of workers today,” Probst said. “There is a clear willingness to change, with two in five businesses saying hiring can be improved to reduce time to hire and enhance the candidate experience.

“It’s important to remember that hiring smarter and making applications more streamlined doesn’t mean businesses have to sacrifice quality. Technology, AI, CV databases and more creative hiring solutions mean recruiters can make headhunting less hard and more effective for everyone involved.”

With a recent study suggesting that large UK businesses could see at least £132.6 million in lost productivity in 2025 due to inefficient recruitment processes and unfilled vacancies, hiring processes that meet candidate expectations may be key to attracting and securing top talent in a competitive job market.