You’re Not Imagining It: Job Applications Are Way Up

I’m a regular reader of the /r/recruiting subreddit. This morning, I came across a thread where talent acquisition professionals were comparing notes about the rising flood of applications.

One wrote:

Another commented:

If this all feels familiar, you are not alone. Data from Gem shows that the average recruiter is receiving 270% more applications than they were three years ago. According to the latest iCIMS Workforce Report, job applications rose 21 percent in May 2025 compared to the same period last year, while hires declined by 8 percent.

At the same time, TA teams are shrinking. Gem’s report shows that the average recruiter headcount fell from 31 in 2022 to 24 in 2024.

With the rapid rise of AI-enabled job applications, the problem is going to get worse. Candidates can now generate customized resumes in seconds, use agentic AI to find and apply for roles, and game traditional screening methods using automated tools. What used to be a flood is fast becoming a tidal wave.

I’ve been in the recruiting space for a long time, and this moment reminds me a lot of the applicant surge in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When job boards first took off, they dramatically reduced the friction for job seekers and recruiters were faced with a flood of resumes. The response then was the rise of applicant tracking systems and early screening tools. Today, we’re seeing a similar wave of innovation, as new technologies are emerging to help teams manage the growing volume of applications.

If you’re seeing similar spikes in applications, I’d love to hear about it. Drop a comment and let me know how rising application volume is affecting your work, your team, and your process.

— David

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